Montana · The Treasure State / Big Sky Country · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
Montana state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
Montana's official state song is “Montana”, written in 1910, adopted in 1945. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Big Sky Country”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for Montana, with its full lyrics.
An original song for Montana
Wide cinematic western-country with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, strings, slow building drums and a vast, open chorus
“Big Sky Country” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male vocal · Wide cinematic western-country with acoustic guitar.
Verse 1
The sky goes on forever and the mountains hold it high
Glacier's lakes are turquoise where the grizzlies wander by
Bitterroot is blooming on a hillside no one owns
Montana, you're the wild that lives inside my bones
Chorus
Big Sky Country, gold and silver in the ground
Meadowlark is singing where the cattle move around
From Glacier down to Yellowstone, from Billings to the Gate
Montana, you're the treasure in the Treasure State
Verse 2
Trout are rising on the Clark Fork in the evening light
A ranch truck on a gravel road, a thousand stars tonight
Helena in the copper days, Butte in the mines below
Montana, you're the space a soul needs to grow
Chorus
Big Sky Country, gold and silver in the ground
Meadowlark is singing where the cattle move around
From Glacier down to Yellowstone, from Billings to the Gate
Montana, you're the treasure in the Treasure State
Bridge
A river runs through all of it, and so do I
Montana, under all that sky
Chorus
Big Sky Country, gold and silver in the ground
Meadowlark is singing where the cattle move around
From Glacier down to Yellowstone, from Billings to the Gate
Montana, you're the treasure in the Treasure State
About “Big Sky Country”
Montana's anthem is wide cinematic western-country, pedal steel and strings under lyrics about Glacier National Park, Yellowstone's north gate, trout rising on the Clark Fork near Missoula, Butte's copper mines and the Big Sky itself.
The western meadowlark and bitterroot are the state bird and flower, and the chorus translates the motto, "Oro y plata". The official song, "Montana", was written in one evening in 1910 and adopted in 1945.
Places and symbols in the song
- Glacier National Park
- Yellowstone
- the Big Sky
- Missoula and the Clark Fork
- cattle ranches
- Western meadowlark
- Bitterroot
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 Montana
- Title
- “Montana”
- Written by
- words by Charles C. Cohan, music by Joseph E. Howard
- Status
- written in 1910, adopted in 1945
The song was written in a single evening in Helena in 1910; Montana also has a state ballad, "Montana Melody", adopted in 1983.
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.
Montana at a glance
- Nickname
- The Treasure State / Big Sky Country
- Capital
- Helena
- Largest city
- Billings
- Statehood
- November 8, 1889 (41st state)
- Motto
- Oro y plata (Gold and silver)
- State bird
- Western meadowlark
- State flower
- Bitterroot
- Official state song
- "Montana" (in 1945)
Questions about Montana's state song
What is the official state song of Montana?
The official state song of Montana is "Montana", words by Charles C. Cohan, music by Joseph E. Howard, written in 1910, adopted in 1945. The song was written in a single evening in Helena in 1910; Montana also has a state ballad, "Montana Melody", adopted in 1983.
Is "Big Sky Country" the official state song of Montana?
No. "Big Sky Country" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for Montana. The official state song is "Montana", written in 1910, 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 "Big Sky Country" about?
Montana's anthem is wide cinematic western-country, pedal steel and strings under lyrics about Glacier National Park, Yellowstone's north gate, trout rising on the Clark Fork near Missoula, Butte's copper mines and the Big Sky itself. It names Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, the Big Sky, Missoula and the Clark Fork and cattle ranches, with the state bird (western meadowlark) and state flower (bitterroot) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Montana" and when was it adopted?
"Montana" is credited to words by Charles C. Cohan, music by Joseph E. Howard; it was written in 1910, adopted in 1945. The song was written in a single evening in Helena in 1910; Montana also has a state ballad, "Montana Melody", adopted in 1983.
What are Montana's state symbols?
Montana is nicknamed The Treasure State / Big Sky Country. Its capital is Helena and its largest city is Billings. It joined the Union on November 8, 1889 (41st state). The state motto is "Oro y plata (Gold and silver)", the state bird is the western meadowlark and the state flower is the bitterroot.
Can I play or share "Big Sky Country"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about Montana, 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 Montana?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Billings, MT") 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.