At 85, he's singing the same N.J. song
Phillipsburg man hopes 'I'm from New Jersey' will become official state tune

BY TOM HESTER JR.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRENTON -- Red Mascara has a dream.

He's been close to it. Again and again, again and again, again and again -- and again.

Seven times his song, "I'm from New Jersey," written in 1960, has been approved by legislators to become the official New Jersey song, but it's never made it into law, leaving New Jersey the only state without an official ditty.

Now 85, Mascara -- a frequent presence at the New Jersey Statehouse, where he continues lobbying lawmakers and doles out candy to make friends -- is worried that his 47-year-old dream is slipping away.

"Please do it while I'm living," said Mascara, of Phillipsburg.

"Let me experience the pleasure."

Besides Mascara's age and persistence, a state senator has proposed that New Jersey adopt the hit Bon Jovi song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home," as its official song. Jon Bon Jovi is from Sayreville.

"That song, it brings tears to my eyes," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak. "The guy's been all around the world and he picks New Jersey to hang his hat."

Like all states, New Jersey has its symbols.

The violet is the state flower. The Eastern goldfinch is the state bird. The red oak is the state tree. It even has a state shell -- the knobbed whelk.

But while Colorado celebrates "Rocky Mountain High" and Georgia venerates "Georgia On My Mind" and "On Wisconsin" rings through the America's Dairyland, New Jersey has failed to adopt a song, despite bids to do so dating back to 1794, when then-Gov. Richard Howell wrote a song used by troops heading off to help quell the Whiskey Rebellion.

Mascara's melody passed the Assembly in 1966, 1968, 1971 and 1980. It passed the Senate in 1982. It passed both houses in 1972 and 1979, but wasn't signed into law.

"It's made me feel bad," Mascara said of his near-misses. To him, Bon Jovi's song doesn't cut it. It never mentions New Jersey.

"If you have a song about New Jersey, you should at least say 'I'm from New Jersey and I'm proud about it,'" he said, referencing his song's opening line.

But Lesniak said Bon Jovi's song says it all with lyrics like, "These are my streets, the only life I've ever known. Who says you can't go home."

"I don't think it's that bad of an idea (to have a Bon Jovi state song), no disrespect to Bruce," Lesniak said, bursting into laughter as he added, "Plus, imagine all the chicks I can get."

Bruce, of course, is Freehold native Bruce Springsteen, New Jersey's other rock icon. In 1980, the Assembly approved making Springsteen's "Born to Run" the state's unofficial rock theme, but the state Senate never followed.

While the song is considered a rock classic, and Lesniak said he's foremost a Springsteen fan, he noted "Born to Run" lyrics like, "It's death trap, it's a suicide rap. We gotta get out while we're young." "That's not exactly fitting for a state song, you know," Lesniak said.

But adopting Bon Jovi's musings about returning home after a life on the road would be a great way to promote the state, Lesniak said. The tune already has been used in television ads promoting New Jersey tourism.

"I was just musing what a great state New Jersey is," said Lesniak, D-Union. "We're the wealthiest. We're the most educated. The Rutgers football team is doing great. So is the women's basketball team. We better start talking about some good things about New Jersey."

But a song may not be the way to do it.

"It's a nice thing (a state song), but it's certainly not at the top of my legislative agenda," said Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer.

Mascara, the father of two children and retired from a Phillipsburg chemical plant, wrote his song in 1960 after then-Gov. Robert Meyner mentioned that he was disappointed because New Jersey lacked a song. Meyner was from Phillipsburg, and Mascara said they knew each other. He even wrote a song for Meyner's re-election campaign.

"If the governor were walking down the aisle at a convention, marching down the street in a parade or making his entrance into a hall, it would be appropriate if the name of the song being played were, 'I'm from New Jersey'" said Mascara, whose real first name is Joseph. Lesniak isn't dismissing Mascara's song. In fact, he remains a co-sponsor of legislation to make it the official state anthem.

"Nice guy, great guy," Lesniak said of Mascara, before adding with a chuckle, "But he doesn't have a No. 1 hit."

- - - -
8/22/07

I ran across Red Mascara's website while Google-ing for all things Jersey a few years ago when I was putting together my New Jerseyan web page. I became intrigued with Mr. Mascara's song & his dream & called him on the phone. We had a pleasant chat, & I asked if he had a MIDI version of "I'm From New Jersey" that he would allow me to use on my website. He didn't have one, & I asked for permission to seek out someone who could & would sequence the tune for me. He kindly granted permission for me to do so. Some time later, I stumbled across the usenet group alt.binaries.sounds.midi & e-mailed several MIDI sequencers who post there inquiring if they would sequence the tune for me for a fee. James Pitt-Payne from the UK offered to sequence the tune for me but would not accept any payment for doing so. I received the MIDI file within hours & was thrilled with it. I promptly e-mailed it to Mr. Mascara, & he was extremely happy with James' MIDI version, too. It's the background sound on this page. Now I'm asking for YOUR assistance. You may have read the above Associated Press story in your local paper this week. I read it on Sunday & called Mr. Mascara to ask what I could possibly do to help see his dream of having "I'm From New Jersey" finally adopted & recognized by the State of New Jersey as the Official State Song. Today, I e-mailed Jon Corzine, Richard Codey & the members of my local legislature with my request. I will be e-mailing a letter to the editor of my local paper as well. Please take a minute to read the lyrics to "I'm From New Jersey" below & click on Red's name to check out his "I'm From New Jersey" website & listen to the music. Then take another minute to e-mail Governor Corzine, Senate President Codey & the members of your own local legistature requesting that they take the time to finally & officially adopt "I'm From New Jersey" as the New Jersey State Song. Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" shouldn't even be considered in jest, & Jon Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home", while a really great song & fine for the New Jersey tourism commercials recently airing, doesn't mention New Jersey at all & to me is more a wonderful anthem to anyone's home & family anywhere & shouldn't be pigeon-holed to a particular place or state. I promise, it will only take a few moments of your time right now. I've gathered the info together here for you. Please click each of the links below & help make Red's dream come true here & now & not posthumously. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Karen Sherman Merritt

Update: Sadly, Joseph Rocco Mascari a/k/a Red Mascara passed away on June 20, 2015 never having his dream fulfilled. Red Mascara, who lobbied tirelessly for N.J. state song, dies

- - - -
Governor Jon Corzine

Senate President Richard Codey

Your Legislature
- - - -
"I'm From New Jersey" 1961
The State Song for New Jersey
Words & Music by Red Mascara
© 1961,1989, 2000 by Red Mascara, Phillipsburg, N.J.

Verse (Ad lib)

I know of a state that's a perfect playland with white sandy beaches by the sea;
With fun-filled mountains, lakes & parks, & folks with hospitality;
With historic towns where battles were fought & presidents have made their home;
It's called New Jersey, & I toast & tout it wherever I may roam,
'Cause...

First Chorus

I'm from New Jersey & I'm proud about it, I love the Garden State.
I'm from New Jersey & I want to shout it, I think it's simply great.
All of the other states throughout the nation may mean a lot to some;
But I wouldn't want another, Jersey is like no other, I'm glad that's where I'm from.

Second Chorus

If you want glamour try Atlantic City or Wildwood by the sea;
Then there is Trenton, Princeton & Fort Monmouth, they all made history.
Each little town has got that certain something, from High Point to Cape May;
& some place like Mantoloking, Phillipsburg or Hoboken, will steal your heart away.

sequenced with permission for Karen Sherman Merritt
by James Pitt-Payne, London UK
on Thursday 08 September 2005 at 09.27
in association with Doug Grierson