Kansas · The Sunflower State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Kansas state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Kansas's official state song is “Home on the Range”, adopted in 1947. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “To the Stars”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Kansas, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Kansas
Wide-open prairie country with steel guitar, acoustic strum, harmonica and a hopeful, horizon-wide chorus
“To the Stars” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male vocal · Wide-open prairie country with steel guitar.
Verse 1
Sunflowers turn their faces to a sky that never ends
The Flint Hills roll in waves of grass the prairie wind still bends
A meadowlark is singing from a fencepost in the light
Kansas, you're the open heart that makes the world feel right
Chorus
Ad astra per aspera, to the stars through every storm
Kansas, you're the flat wide ground that keeps a body warm
From Dodge City to Topeka, Wichita to the line
Kansas, under all that sky, you're mine
Verse 2
Wheat as gold as any coin from Goodland to the east
The cattle drives of Abilene, the storms that never ceased
A tornado on the horizon and a cellar door below
Kansas, you're the strength that only prairie people know
Chorus
Ad astra per aspera, to the stars through every storm
Kansas, you're the flat wide ground that keeps a body warm
From Dodge City to Topeka, Wichita to the line
Kansas, under all that sky, you're mine
Bridge
Dorothy had it right, there's no place like home
Kansas, under all that sky, I'm never alone
Chorus
Ad astra per aspera, to the stars through every storm
Kansas, you're the flat wide ground that keeps a body warm
From Dodge City to Topeka, Wichita to the line
Kansas, under all that sky, you're mine
About “To the Stars”
Kansas gets wide-open prairie country with steel guitar and harmonica, and a chorus built on the motto, "Ad astra per aspera". The lyrics cover the Flint Hills tallgrass, the wheat belt, Dodge City and Abilene cattle-drive history, and a tornado on the horizon.
The sunflower and western meadowlark are the state flower and bird. "Home on the Range", the official state song since 1947, was written in a cabin near Smith Center in the 1870s.
Places and symbols in the song
- sunflower fields
- the Flint Hills
- Dodge City
- Wichita
- tallgrass prairie
- Western meadowlark
- Wild native sunflower
SongUp AI composed and sang this song from the lyrics above and the style line under the title, the same way it makes songs for its users. It is not the official state song and it is not a cover.
The official state song of Kansas
- Title
- “Home on the Range”
- Written by
- words by Dr. Brewster M. Higley, music by Daniel E. Kelley
- Status
- adopted in 1947
Higley wrote the poem in his cabin near Smith Center in the early 1870s; it became a cowboy standard across the West long before Kansas claimed it.
Many official state songs are still in copyright, so their lyrics are not printed here. The state's own website or legislature publishes the official text.
Kansas at a glance
- Nickname
- The Sunflower State
- Capital
- Topeka
- Largest city
- Wichita
- Statehood
- January 29, 1861 (34th state)
- Motto
- Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)
- State bird
- Western meadowlark
- State flower
- Wild native sunflower
- Official state song
- "Home on the Range" (in 1947)
Questions about Kansas's state song
What is the official state song of Kansas?
The official state song of Kansas is "Home on the Range", words by Dr. Brewster M. Higley, music by Daniel E. Kelley, adopted in 1947. Higley wrote the poem in his cabin near Smith Center in the early 1870s; it became a cowboy standard across the West long before Kansas claimed it.
Is "To the Stars" the official state song of Kansas?
No. "To the Stars" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Kansas. The official state song is "Home on the Range", adopted in 1947. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "To the Stars" about?
Kansas gets wide-open prairie country with steel guitar and harmonica, and a chorus built on the motto, "Ad astra per aspera". The lyrics cover the Flint Hills tallgrass, the wheat belt, Dodge City and Abilene cattle-drive history, and a tornado on the horizon. It names sunflower fields, the Flint Hills, Dodge City, Wichita and tallgrass prairie, with the state bird (western meadowlark) and state flower (wild native sunflower) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Home on the Range" and when was it adopted?
"Home on the Range" is credited to words by Dr. Brewster M. Higley, music by Daniel E. Kelley; it was adopted in 1947. Higley wrote the poem in his cabin near Smith Center in the early 1870s; it became a cowboy standard across the West long before Kansas claimed it.
What are Kansas's state symbols?
Kansas is nicknamed The Sunflower State. Its capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita. It joined the Union on January 29, 1861 (34th state). The state motto is "Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)", the state bird is the western meadowlark and the state flower is the wild native sunflower.
Can I play or share "To the Stars"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Kansas, your town, your school or your family, with the names and places you choose, describe it on the Create page: a free account hears a 30-second preview of its own lyrics sung, and a full song comes with a Pro plan.
How do I make my own song about Kansas?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Wichita, KS") or paste your own lyrics, pick a voice, and SongUp AI writes, sings and mixes it in a few minutes. Every song comes with a lyric video, stems and a gift page.