Verse 1:
Juan Pardo said hey Tanasqui
In the middle of the 15's

200 years then the British settle in
After independence we became a state
Split in half by Civil War debate

Over Union or Confederate but then...
Harris' military decision
Way before the secession

We joined the south, some reluctantly
Troops are on both sides, you see


Explanation:
Juan Pardo, a Spanish explorer, was the first European to pass through Tennessee (TN). Tanasqui (later spelled Tennessee) was a Native American village that Pardo visited in 1567.
In 1756 the British started to settle in TN. Fort Loudon was the westernmost British outpost.

TN became part of the U.S. after the American Revolution and became a state on June 1st, 1796.
During the Civil War the state was split - east TN was mostly for the Union and people in middle/west TN were largely for the Confederacy.
Governor Harris passed a law that created a military alliance with the Confederate states. It could be argued that TN was not actually the last state to secede and that North Carolina (NC) was actually the last because of this clear alliance before official secession.

TN seceded after Lincoln called upon them to fight against the Confederacy.
TN supplied the largest number of soldiers for both the Union and the Confederacy.


Chorus:
The Watauga $$#ociation
A dangerous new legislation

Paved the way for independence
On the river in Tennessee
Here comes the 16th state from federal land

Ceded, from that old NC
We're the Volunteers
Who saved New Orleans


Explanation:
In the 1760s English and Scotch-Irish settlers came to TN and established areas along the Watauga River. They created the Watauga $$#ociation which was an autonomous government. It is believed that it was the first government established in the colonies. Lord Dunmore (Governor of Virginia) called this $$#ociation a "dangerous example." Others considered it a step toward American independence.

TN was admitted as the 16th state in 1796. It is the only state that was created from federal land. TN was the western half of North Carolina, but NC gave the land to the government in 1790.
TN is the called Volunteer State. The name was adopted after a large number of TN volunteers fought for during the War of 1812. TN troops played a large role in winning the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle.


Verse 2:
Three Grand Divisions, stars represent
Equal say in state government

From the Great Smoky Mountains
To the Meeman-Shelby
Mountains and valleys out in the east

Hills and Bottoms out west to the Mississippi
The Highland Rim around the basin in our middle piece
Start hiking at Clingman's Dome

Along the Appalachian Trail we'll go
Head west along the###berland Plateau
Lets get to Nashville's country homes


Explanation:
TN is split into the "The Grand Divisions." It is divided into three (basically) equal parts. East, Middle and West TN. This ensures that each area gets equal representation according to the TN Constitution.

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is in the east and the Meeman-Shelby Park is in the west.
East TN has mountains and valleys. West TN has rolling hills and the TN Bottoms, ending at the Mississippi River. Middle TN Has the Highland Rim (elevated plains) surrounding the rich farmland of the Nashville Basin.
The highest point in TN is Clingman's Dome along the Appalachian Trail.

If you travel west, you will go across###berland Plateau.

Bridge:

The Mockingbird takes flight
On a Memphis summer night
Looking over our agriculture and commerce

With tulip poplars in sight
The purple iris growing right
And wild passion flowers, in Lewisburg


Explanation:
TN Bird: Mockingbird

TN Motto: Agriculture and Commerce
TN Tree: Tulip Poplar
TN Cultivated Flower: Purple Iris

TN Wildflower: Passion Flower

Verse 3:

The Great Depression brings TVA
To boost local economy
Build Oak Ridge and a-bomb with that energy (nuclear energy)

Go agriculture like poultry
And equipment manufacturing
See our caves and parks
Stay to hear us sing (a-hem)
Yeah, Elvis is rock 'n roll

Graceland, his final show
Visit Nashville's Downtown Country Music Row
Where all them records are gold

Explanation:

During the Great Depression the federal government created the Tennessee Valley Authority. This created energy and jobs.
During WWII the government built the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in order to create the Atom Bomb. The location was selected because the abundance of power available from TVA.
TN's economy is based upon agriculture (poultry, soybeans), manufacturing (electrical, transportation), and tourism (national parks).
Graceland is in Memphis and it is Elvis Presley's home/grave.
Country Music Row in Nashville is a collection of businesses that are related to the generation and sale of music.