A Mississippi singer and songwriter has just released a new anthem for the state titled “One Mississippi.”

In 2017, Steve Azar, who was born and reared in Greenville, Mississippi, was asked by Gov. Phil Bryant to write the official Mississippi bicentennial song.

Although Azar says he practically wrote the song as he went home the night Bryant made the request, it took a while to get him and his band in the studio to officially record it.

“One Mississippi” was recorded earlier this year at a new recording studio at the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience museum in Meridian.

Azar’s lyrics pretty much encompass all corners of the Magnolia State.

Here’s a quick transcript of the song’s lyrics:

Fertile fields of flat lands and hills raise ’bout anything, whatever a farmer can dream.

Slug burgers, shrimp boil, catfish fried up in oil.

Oh good gosh oh mighty, just to husk a hot tamale, now.

Now that’s Mississippi. Mmm.

America’s music birthplace where rock and roll was made out of our gospel and blues and that pure country tune.

Oh authors and poets, so profoundly historic.

An imagination of a child let their words run wild. Come on now.

Now that’s Mississippi.

I say, one Mississippi there’s a magnolia tree.

Two Mississippi where a mockingbird sings, out on its limb, whistling that sweet soulful hymn.

I say, three Mississippi to this land called home. I’ll breathe Mississippi ’til I’m dead and gone. Just carry on. I’ll carry on. Mississippi. Yeah.

We survived hurricanes, know them by name, rose above a flood, built a wall of its own mud.

And come Sunday morning, we profess our faith, we’re near the cross and His amazing grace. Oh yeah, now that’s Mississippi.

I say, one Mississippi there’s a magnolia tree.

Two Mississippi where a mockingbird sings, out on its limb, whistling that sweet soulful hymn.

I say, three Mississippi to this land called home. I’ll breathe Mississippi ’til I’m dead and gone. Just carry on. I’ll carry on. Mississippi.

Round here’s where the Muppets grew up.

And potters and artists inspired all of us.

It’s kudzu walls and fall football.

A Gulf Coast sunset and a Delta dawn.

It’s simple nights, a smile on a face, taking that peaceful drive down the Natchez Trace.

And our old man river, lavish lakes and streams.

Pines full of the wildest life and possibilities. That’s Mississippi.

Now Jackson is some kind of centerpiece on a most celebrated table of hospitality.

And ain’t it funny how the world has come to count it seems, they’re doing it everywhere, it’s not just one, two, three. No.

We’re one Mississippi where there’s a magnolia tree.

Two Mississippi while a mockingbird sings, out on its limb, oh what a sweet soulful hymn.

I say, three Mississippi to this land called home. I’ll bleed Mississippi ’til I’m dead and gone. Won’t you carry on. Oh carry on. Mississippi. Mississippi.

Azar’s song, “One Mississippi” is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music.