Anyone from Colorado?? Does anyone care that John Denver's Rocky Mountain High became Colorado's second official state song?
Actually, I was never a big John Denver fan, but I do like the song because it's pretty and brings back fond memories for me. It does seem appropriate for a state song, except, back in the day, "High" meant just that.
Ok, that's how many interpreted it.
Oh, and one other Denver song is pretty good too...."Annie's Song".
DENVER | "Rocky Mountain High," the late John Denver's love letter to his adopted state, became Colorado's second official song March 12.
Lawmakers passed a resolution that puts Denver's 1972 anthem alongside the lesser-known "Where the Columbines Grow", which was adopted in 1915.
"That is very cool. He'd be very honored. We are very proud. I am going to call my mom and tell her," said Ron Deutschendorf, Denver's brother. John Denver was born Henry J. Deutschendorf and changed his name in 1969.
Sen. Bob Hagedorn, who pushed for the second tune, said "Rocky Mountain High" has been an unofficial state song for years and has introduced many people around the world to Colorado.
He said West Virginia adopted Denver's song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" - with its opening line of "Almost heaven, West Virginia" - as a second song as well.
"Even if John Denver thought West Virginia was almost heaven, he chose Colorado to live," said Hagedorn, a Democrat from Aurora.
The Senate passed the measure 26-8 and the House voted 50-11 to support it. One senator and four representatives were absent.
The move came nearly 10 years after Denver died in a plane crash near Monterey, Calif.
In the House, where lawmakers listened to a live performance of the song, Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, unsuccessfully tried to amend the resolution to make it clear that the song refers to Colorado's altitude and doesn't encourage drug use.
Hagedorn said he disagreed with people who believe the song is about drug use. Hagedorn said he is a recovering alcoholic and wouldn't promote a song that encouraged drug use.
http://aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=60&SubSectionID=151&ArticleID=15528TIS
