West Virginia · The Mountain State · By Ismail Farooq, founder · Updated
West Virginia state song: the official anthem's story, and a new song to hear
West Virginia's official state song is “Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others”, the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014. Below is the story of that song, the state's symbols, and “Always Free”: a brand-new anthem SongUp AI wrote and sang for West Virginia, with its full lyrics.
An original song for West Virginia
Appalachian old-time and country, fiddle, banjo, acoustic guitar, close harmony and a heartfelt mountain chorus
“Always Free” lyrics
Original words by SongUp AI, 2026. Male and female duet · Appalachian old-time and country.
Verse 1
Fog is in the hollows and the ridges fade to blue
The New River Gorge bridge is hanging in the morning dew
Rhododendrons on the hillside and a cardinal's song
West Virginia, you're the hills I've belonged to all along
Chorus
Mountaineers are always free, that's what the mountains say
From Harpers Ferry to Huntington, from Wheeling to the bay
Coal in the ground and music in the air
West Virginia, you're the home that's always there
Verse 2
Seneca Rocks is standing like a spine against the sky
Pepperoni rolls and ramps in spring, the Greenbrier rolling by
A miner's lamp, a fiddle tune, a porch at close of day
West Virginia, you're the country road that leads the way
Chorus
Mountaineers are always free, that's what the mountains say
From Harpers Ferry to Huntington, from Wheeling to the bay
Coal in the ground and music in the air
West Virginia, you're the home that's always there
Bridge
Born in a war to stay with the Union, almost heaven, they say
West Virginia, I'm coming home to stay
Chorus
Mountaineers are always free, that's what the mountains say
From Harpers Ferry to Huntington, from Wheeling to the bay
Coal in the ground and music in the air
West Virginia, you're the home that's always there
About “Always Free”
West Virginia's song is Appalachian old-time with fiddle and banjo, close harmony on a chorus built on the motto, "Montani semper liberi". The New River Gorge bridge, Harpers Ferry, Seneca Rocks, the Greenbrier, pepperoni rolls, spring ramps and coal country all appear.
The cardinal and rhododendron are the state bird and flower. West Virginia has four official state songs, three from 1963 and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" since 2014.
Places and symbols in the song
- the New River Gorge
- the Allegheny Mountains
- Harpers Ferry
- coal country
- Seneca Rocks
- Northern cardinal
- Rhododendron
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 West Virginia
- Title
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others”
- Written by
- Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver (1971); earlier songs by others
- Status
- the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014
West Virginia has four official songs: "The West Virginia Hills", "This Is My West Virginia", "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" and, since 2014, "Take Me Home, Country Roads".
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.
West Virginia at a glance
- Nickname
- The Mountain State
- Capital
- Charleston
- Largest city
- Charleston
- Statehood
- June 20, 1863 (35th state)
- Motto
- Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)
- State bird
- Northern cardinal
- State flower
- Rhododendron
- Official state song
- "Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others" (the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014)
Questions about West Virginia's state song
What is the official state song of West Virginia?
The official state song of West Virginia is "Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others", Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver (1971); earlier songs by others, the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014. West Virginia has four official songs: "The West Virginia Hills", "This Is My West Virginia", "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" and, since 2014, "Take Me Home, Country Roads".
Is "Always Free" the official state song of West Virginia?
No. "Always Free" is an original song written and sung by SongUp AI in 2026 as a new anthem for West Virginia. The official state song is "Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others", the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014. The official lyrics are not reproduced here; this page is about the facts of that song and about our own.
What is "Always Free" about?
West Virginia's song is Appalachian old-time with fiddle and banjo, close harmony on a chorus built on the motto, "Montani semper liberi". The New River Gorge bridge, Harpers Ferry, Seneca Rocks, the Greenbrier, pepperoni rolls, spring ramps and coal country all appear. It names the New River Gorge, the Allegheny Mountains, Harpers Ferry, coal country and Seneca Rocks, with the state bird (northern cardinal) and state flower (rhododendron) in the lyrics.
Who wrote "Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others" and when was it adopted?
"Take Me Home, Country Roads and three others" is credited to Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert and John Denver (1971); earlier songs by others; it was the three older songs adopted in 1963, "Country Roads" added in 2014. West Virginia has four official songs: "The West Virginia Hills", "This Is My West Virginia", "West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home" and, since 2014, "Take Me Home, Country Roads".
What are West Virginia's state symbols?
West Virginia is nicknamed The Mountain State. Its capital is Charleston and its largest city is Charleston. It joined the Union on June 20, 1863 (35th state). The state motto is "Montani semper liberi (Mountaineers are always free)", the state bird is the northern cardinal and the state flower is the rhododendron.
Can I play or share "Always Free"?
Yes. Listen here as often as you like and share the page link. For a song of your own about West Virginia, 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 West Virginia?
Open the Create page, describe the song (for example "an upbeat country song about growing up in Charleston, WV") 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.