Cities of Gold (Arizona) - #50StatesAlbum - #Paperslide Music Video

Details

Description

Download the mp3, lyrics and additional materials from Discovery Education Streaming
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/4566CBC8-2BB7-40BD-B129-562972D3243F

Paperslide video illustrated by Jann Maser
http://www.jannmaser.com/

50 States Album: A 50-song album covering the basic history, geography, and economic structure of each state in the U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkFXQnAzKU78Hz2833mKnet48DwqAuPD7

http://lodgemccammon.com/

Lyrics/Explanation -

1st Verse:
Marcos de Niza
First European here in 1539
Coronado's search for the cities of gold
Didn't leave him far behind
Still Spain developed this territory
'Til Mexico said "Hey, we're fine"
Nueva California
A part until a war with these United States
Mexico, they lost and were - paid off in 1848
Giving up the land in our southwest
That would later confederate

Explanation:
In 1539 Marcos de Niza, a Spanish Franciscan, was the first European to arrive in Arizona (AZ).
De Niza reported that he had seen a gold city in his travels, so Coronado, a Spanish explorer, traveled to what is now AZ in 1540, searching for the Seven Cities of Gold.
For about 300 years Spain developed this land. Then Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, and what is now AZ was controlled by Mexico, part of a territory they called "Nueva California" (Also "Alta California").
The United States beat Mexico in the Mexican-American War and purchased land in the southwest territory (including what is now AZ) for $15 million in 1848.
AZ was part of New Mexico at the start of the Civil War and joined the confederacy.

Chorus:
So much more than the old school western half of New Mexico
Arizona - the copper state, where the Grand Canyon shows
We got the 48th, the last contiguous role
And Phoenix - our city of gold

Explanation:
Jefferson Davis referred to the western half of New Mexico as "Arizona." And in 1863 the western half of New Mexico was officially declared by Abraham Lincoln as the Arizona Territory.
AZ is called the Copper State due to the importance of that mineral to the economic history. It is also called the Grand Canyon State because the largest part of the Grand Canyon resides in the north.
AZ was the 48th state to be admitted to the United States on Feb.14th, 1912. It was the last contiguous state to be admitted.
Phoenix, the capital of AZ, could be considered a modern city of gold due to its growth and thriving economy.

2nd Verse:
North Arizona
We've got the forests, mountains and the Colorado Plateau
The Grand Canyon is picturesque
Moderate temperatures and some snow
Then in the south - basin-range desert
Continues into Mexico
A southwest state
Where we can meet at the quadpoint at the Four Corners
Where Colorado, and New Mexico, and Utah with us collide
We have some southern desert borders
In the east we have Alpine

Explanation:
In the north you will find many forests, mountains, the Grand Canyon, and the Colorado Plateau. The north has seasons with moderate temperatures and many of the mountain areas get snow.
In the south you will find the Basin and Range area known for deserts, hot summers and very mild winters.
The southern border of AZ is the northern border of Mexico which shares the Basin and Range desert climate.
AZ is located in the southwest of the U.S.
The Four Corners States (AZ, NM, CO, UT) all meet at a point in the Colorado Plateau called the quadpoint.
The southern border of AZ is largely desert, and a well-known ski town is Alpine.

Bridge:
Ditat Deus carved on a trunk of a Pablo Verde
In the hot dry sun of the Sonoran desert
Just south of Tucson
While a Cactus Wren lets out a warning
In the north canyons
And glides over a field of Saguaro Blossoms
Over Sedona and Williams

Explanation:
State Motto: Ditat Deus (God enriches)
State Tree: Pablo Verde
The desert in south AZ is called the Sonoran
Tucson is a significant city in southern AZ
State Bird: Cactus Wren
State Flower: Saguaro Blossom
Sedona and Williams are smaller towns in northern AZ

3rd Verse:
Before the Great Depression
Copper and cotton were the economic kings
After the 20s tourism boomed
From dude ranches like Flying V
Experience the old west
With real cowboy amenities
We're air conditioned
So after the Second World War, the people flocked
Snowbirds, or retirement, for vacation or a ski stop
Copper, cotton, cattle, citrus, climate
Five C's, yea we've got a lot

Explanation:
http://tinyurl.com/CitiesOfGoldSong


Copyright © 2013 Dr. Lodge McCammon