North Carolina · The Tar Heel State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
North Carolina state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
North Carolina's official state song is “The Old North State”, adopted in 1927. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Mountains to the Sea”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for North Carolina, with its full lyrics.
An original song for North Carolina
Appalachian folk meets Carolina beach soul, acoustic guitar, banjo, warm electric piano, soft horns and a sunlit chorus
“Mountains to the Sea” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male vocal · Appalachian folk meets Carolina beach soul.
Verse 1
Blue Ridge morning, the mist is in the hollows low
Dogwoods white in April and a cardinal in the snow
Out on the Outer Banks the wild horses run the sand
North Carolina, you're the first flight, you're the land
Chorus
Mountains to the sea, to be and not to seem
From Asheville to the Cape Fear, from Raleigh to the stream
Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred, the lighthouse on the shore
North Carolina, you're the home I'm always headed for
Verse 2
Barbecue debates in Lexington, vinegar or not
Charlotte's towers rising up and Durham's coming hot
A lighthouse down at Hatteras in stripes of black and white
North Carolina, you're the long road and the light
Chorus
Mountains to the sea, to be and not to seem
From Asheville to the Cape Fear, from Raleigh to the stream
Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred, the lighthouse on the shore
North Carolina, you're the home I'm always headed for
Bridge
Two brothers at Kitty Hawk and twelve seconds in the air
North Carolina, you're the first to get us there
Chorus
Mountains to the sea, to be and not to seem
From Asheville to the Cape Fear, from Raleigh to the stream
Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred, the lighthouse on the shore
North Carolina, you're the home I'm always headed for
About “Mountains to the Sea”
North Carolina's song joins Appalachian folk and Carolina beach soul and runs the state end to end: the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Lexington barbecue, Charlotte, Durham, the Hatteras lighthouse and the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk.
The cardinal and flowering dogwood are the state bird and flower, and the chorus translates the motto, "Esse quam videri". "The Old North State", written around 1835, has been the official song since 1927.
Places and symbols in the song
- the Blue Ridge Parkway
- the Outer Banks
- Kitty Hawk
- Asheville
- Carolina barbecue
- Northern cardinal
- Flowering dogwood
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 North Carolina
- Title
- “The Old North State”
- Written by
- words by William Gaston, music collected by Mrs. E. E. Randolph
- Status
- adopted in 1927
Judge William Gaston wrote the words around 1835 to a tune he heard a touring Swiss group sing in Raleigh.
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.
North Carolina at a glance
- Nickname
- The Tar Heel State
- Capital
- Raleigh
- Largest city
- Charlotte
- Statehood
- November 21, 1789 (12th state)
- Motto
- Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem)
- State bird
- Northern cardinal
- State flower
- Flowering dogwood
- Official state song
- "The Old North State" (in 1927)
Questions about North Carolina's state song
What is the official state song of North Carolina?
The official state song of North Carolina is "The Old North State", words by William Gaston, music collected by Mrs. E. E. Randolph, adopted in 1927. Judge William Gaston wrote the words around 1835 to a tune he heard a touring Swiss group sing in Raleigh.
Is "Mountains to the Sea" the official state song of North Carolina?
No. "Mountains to the Sea" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for North Carolina. The official state song is "The Old North State", adopted in 1927. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Mountains to the Sea" about?
North Carolina's song joins Appalachian folk and Carolina beach soul and runs the state end to end: the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Lexington barbecue, Charlotte, Durham, the Hatteras lighthouse and the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. It names the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk, Asheville and Carolina barbecue, with the state bird (northern cardinal) and state flower (flowering dogwood) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "The Old North State" and when was it adopted?
"The Old North State" is credited to words by William Gaston, music collected by Mrs. E. E. Randolph; it was adopted in 1927. Judge William Gaston wrote the words around 1835 to a tune he heard a touring Swiss group sing in Raleigh.
What are North Carolina's state symbols?
North Carolina is nicknamed The Tar Heel State. Its capital is Raleigh and its largest city is Charlotte. It joined the Union on November 21, 1789 (12th state). The state motto is "Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem)", the state bird is the northern cardinal and the state flower is the flowering dogwood.
Can I play or share "Mountains to the Sea"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about North Carolina, 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 North Carolina?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Charlotte, NC") 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.