MYNORTHWEST HISTORY

Gov. Inslee responds to Sicko’s version of ‘Washington, My Home’

Apr 14, 2020, 10:04 AM | Updated: 10:57 am

Jay Inslee...

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.(Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

(Photo by Karen Ducey/Getty Images)

When KIRO Radio last week revisited the origins of the 1990s version of the state song, “Washington, My Home” by homegrown band Sicko, KIRO Radio had reached out to see if Governor Inslee was aware of the recording, and, if so, what he thought of it.

Inslee was (understandably) too busy managing the state’s COVID-19 response to initially weigh in on its merits.

But early Tuesday, a member of his staff provided the following statement from the governor:

Yes, I have been humming that version for 22 years now, at least when I am not humming Roobtubas and the Rondondas’ ‘Catchy in Wenatchee.’ (I liked their 1969 version best — by 1998 they had sold out to the Man and went all corporate.)

I always thought that Sicko spoke to a whole generation of Washingtonians much more than Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (they weren’t edgy enough to use “Walla Walla.” If they’d been ‘Gary Puckett and the Walla Walla’ we would never have heard of the Beatles).

Most people never knew that if you played Sicko’s original 45 backwards, it had the line, ‘Satan’s in the Pasayten, Satan’s in the Pasayten.’

Yes, Washington is my home and remember, if you are ever alone, click your Chuck’s heels three times and say, “There’s no place like the Kingdome.”

KIRO Radio will next ask the Governor what he thought of Ross Shafer’s 1985 attempt to install “Louie, Louie” as the state song.

You can hear Feliks every Wednesday and Friday morning on Seattle’s Morning News and read more from him here. If you have a story idea, please email Feliks here.

MyNorthwest History

eastside rail sound transit...

Feliks Banel

Echoes of Eastside rail history with Sound Transit preparing to get underway

As Sound Transit inaugurates commuter trains between Bellevue and Redmond, when was the last time passenger rail service was offered on the Eastside?

5 days ago

"Street Trees of Seattle" author Taha Ebrahimi (RIGHT) bumped into Alec Duxbury, her high school En...

Feliks Banel

Layers of history revealed by ‘Street Trees of Seattle’

This new book is “Street Trees of Seattle: An Illustrated Walking Guide” by writer and artist Taha Ebrahimi.

7 days ago

Image: This is a vintage magazine ad for the type of Cold War air raid siren which stood in a Seatt...

Feliks Banel

Update: Cold War air raid siren remains in private hands

A vintage magazine ad for the type of Cold War air-raid siren which stood in a Seattle park for more than 70 years, and which now belongs to Binford Metals in Kent. (Public domain)

11 days ago

Brakeman Bill...

Feliks Banel

Local TV legend “Brakeman Bill” McLain passes away at age 96

Brakeman Bill McLain, longtime beloved kids' TV show host, has passed away, according to a message from his family posted on social media.

14 days ago

Northacres Park siren...

Feliks Banel

City of Seattle sends Cold War artifact to the dump

A Cold War tower and siren disappeared from its perch in a park in North Seattle last month. People want to know where they went.

14 days ago

Image: "Seattle's Legendary Scarecrow Video," which has been nominated for an Emmy in 2024, is a sh...

KIRO Newsradio staff

Feliks Banel’s ‘Scarecrow Video’ documentary nominated for Emmy Award

The academy's northwest chapter revealed its 2023 Emmy nominations and Feliks Banel is on the list for "Seattle's Legendary Scarecrow Video."

18 days ago

Gov. Inslee responds to Sicko’s version of ‘Washington, My Home’