A Look at 30 Surprising Songs That Mention “Indiana” in Their Lyrics

If you know me at all, you know I’ll take just about any excuse to celebrate Indiana. And this list? It turned out to be one of the most fun little passion projects I’ve worked on in a while.

Why I Went Looking for Indiana in Song Lyrics

Right off the bat, I want to clear something up. This isn’t a list of songs about Indiana (although, yes, a few of those do sneak in). Instead, I went down a musical rabbit hole looking for songs that simply mention the word “Indiana” somewhere in the lyrics. That’s it. No deeper criteria. And honestly? I was pretty blown away by how many I found.

ALSO READ: 18 Indiana State Symbols Every Hoosier Should Know

As a proud, lifelong Hoosier, it was genuinely cool to discover just how often our state pops up in music across different genres and decades. Some of these songs made me smile. Some made me laugh. A few made me say, “Wait… that song mentions Indiana?” And yes, a handful had me wondering how they ever got recorded in the first place. 😄

Before You Hit Play, A Few Things to Know

Before you start scrolling, clicking, listening, and forming strong opinions, let me get a few things out of the way:

First, I know there are songs missing from this list. Probably more than a few. That wasn’t intentional at all, and I’d love for you to tell me which ones I missed so we can keep the conversation (and the playlist) going.

ALSO READ: Indiana Has 4 of the Best Small Cities in America, Including the #1 Spot!

Second, the songs are listed alphabetically by artist. No favorites being played here - this Hoosier is staying neutral.

Not All of These Songs Are Winners… And That’s Okay

And finally, I’m not claiming every song on this list is great. Some are bad. Some are weird. Some are just fine. But I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised by how many were actually pretty darn good.

In fact, three songs really stood out to me:

• “Indiana” by Jon McLaughlin
• “Back to Indiana” by The Elms
• “Indiana” by The Samples

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So, there you have it. I’ve said my piece. Now it’s your turn to listen, judge, reminisce, and maybe discover a new favorite that gives Indiana a little lyrical love. Enjoy the music!

Keep scrolling to see more famous Hoosiers...