I come from the heart of the heartland
Where picture shows, and the corn grows in rows and rows
And summer greens and winter snows, and it goes on
Through the crack of the bat
Oh, everybody rollin' out their welcome mat
And our hands on our hearts under the stars of the Friday night flag
And oh, the heart will wander
Beyond that wild, blue yonder
And I get lost in the noise
Like a whisper, I hear the voice of the boy
Oh, from Illinois
I remember the first time I saw that name on the marquee sign
Lights so bright it almost made you blind
I get lost in sweet girls singin' along
Buses rollin' on in the silver dawn
Seeing the world a long, long way from home
And oh, the heart will wander
Beyond that wild, blue yonder
And I get lost in the noise
Like a whisper, I hear the voice of the boy
Oh, it's running through my blood
It's the place I got my roots
It's the fun that it's in my soul
It's the mud that's on my boots
Oh, Illinois
And oh, that heart will wander
Beyond the wild, blue yonder
When I get lost in the noise
Like a whisper, I hear the voice of the boy
Oh, from Illinois (from Illinois)
Takes me back (from Illinois)
Take me home (Illinois)
I come from the heart of the heartland