Minnesota · The North Star State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Minnesota state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Minnesota's official state song is “Hail! Minnesota”, adopted in 1945. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Star of the North”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Minnesota, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Minnesota
Indie folk-pop with warm acoustic guitar, piano, soft synth pads, choir-like harmonies and a glowing chorus
“Star of the North” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male and female duet · Indie folk-pop with warm acoustic guitar.
Verse 1
A loon calls across the lake before the sun is up
The Mississippi starts at Itasca, small enough to cup
Lady's slippers in the bog, a canoe cutting glass
Minnesota, you're the stillness that I never want to pass
Chorus
Star of the North, ten thousand lakes of blue
Northern lights above the pines and I am seeing you
From the Cities to the Boundary Waters, Duluth down to the farms
Minnesota, you're the cold that keeps me warm
Verse 2
Purple rain in Minneapolis, a first avenue night
Saint Paul in the winter carnival, ice castles in the light
Walleye on the dock, hotdish on the stove
Minnesota, you're the kind of home I never knew I'd love
Chorus
Star of the North, ten thousand lakes of blue
Northern lights above the pines and I am seeing you
From the Cities to the Boundary Waters, Duluth down to the farms
Minnesota, you're the cold that keeps me warm
Bridge
Forty below and we're still waving, still saying hi
Minnesota, you're the north star in my sky
Chorus
Star of the North, ten thousand lakes of blue
Northern lights above the pines and I am seeing you
From the Cities to the Boundary Waters, Duluth down to the farms
Minnesota, you're the cold that keeps me warm
About “Star of the North”
Minnesota's song is glowing indie folk-pop, with a loon call in the first line and the northern lights in the chorus. The Mississippi headwaters at Lake Itasca, the Boundary Waters, Duluth, the Saint Paul winter carnival and Prince's Minneapolis all appear.
The common loon and the lady's slipper are the state bird and flower; the title is the motto translated. "Hail! Minnesota", a University of Minnesota song from 1904, became the official state song in 1945.
Places and symbols in the song
- 10,000 lakes
- the Boundary Waters
- Minneapolis and Saint Paul
- the Mississippi headwaters
- the northern lights
- Common loon
- Pink-and-white lady's slipper
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 Minnesota
- Title
- “Hail! Minnesota”
- Written by
- words by Truman E. Rickard and Arthur E. Upson, music by Truman E. Rickard
- Status
- adopted in 1945
Written in 1904 and 1905 as a University of Minnesota song, it became the state song in 1945 with one word of the chorus changed.
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.
Minnesota at a glance
- Nickname
- The North Star State
- Capital
- Saint Paul
- Largest city
- Minneapolis
- Statehood
- May 11, 1858 (32nd state)
- Motto
- L'Étoile du Nord (The Star of the North)
- State bird
- Common loon
- State flower
- Pink-and-white lady's slipper
- Official state song
- "Hail! Minnesota" (in 1945)
Questions about Minnesota's state song
What is the official state song of Minnesota?
The official state song of Minnesota is "Hail! Minnesota", words by Truman E. Rickard and Arthur E. Upson, music by Truman E. Rickard, adopted in 1945. Written in 1904 and 1905 as a University of Minnesota song, it became the state song in 1945 with one word of the chorus changed.
Is "Star of the North" the official state song of Minnesota?
No. "Star of the North" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Minnesota. The official state song is "Hail! Minnesota", adopted in 1945. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Star of the North" about?
Minnesota's song is glowing indie folk-pop, with a loon call in the first line and the northern lights in the chorus. The Mississippi headwaters at Lake Itasca, the Boundary Waters, Duluth, the Saint Paul winter carnival and Prince's Minneapolis all appear. It names 10,000 lakes, the Boundary Waters, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the Mississippi headwaters and the northern lights, with the state bird (common loon) and state flower (pink-and-white lady's slipper) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Hail! Minnesota" and when was it adopted?
"Hail! Minnesota" is credited to words by Truman E. Rickard and Arthur E. Upson, music by Truman E. Rickard; it was adopted in 1945. Written in 1904 and 1905 as a University of Minnesota song, it became the state song in 1945 with one word of the chorus changed.
What are Minnesota's state symbols?
Minnesota is nicknamed The North Star State. Its capital is Saint Paul and its largest city is Minneapolis. It joined the Union on May 11, 1858 (32nd state). The state motto is "L'Étoile du Nord (The Star of the North)", the state bird is the common loon and the state flower is the pink-and-white lady's slipper.
Can I play or share "Star of the North"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Minnesota, 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 Minnesota?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Minneapolis, MN") 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.