I come from the heart of the heartland
Where pictures shows where the corn grows
In rows and rows of 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 heart under the stars of the friday night flag

And oh the heart will wander
Beyond that wild blue yonder
When 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 could almost make you blind
I'd get lost in
Sweet girls singin' along
Buses rollin' on in the silver dawn
Seein' the world a long, long way from home

And oh the heart will wander
Beyond that wild blue yonder
When I get lost in the noise like a whisper I hear the voice of the boy
Oh from illinois

It's water through my blood
It's the place I got my roots
It's the fire that's in my soul
It's the mud that's on my boots
Oh illinois

And oh the heart will wander
Beyond that 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
Oh, oh, illinois
Takes me back, illinois
Take me home, take me home, take me home
I come from the heart of the heartland, illinois