City of Cortland Adopts Official Song Written by Cortland Native, Jack Gerhard

The City of Cortland Common Council has voted unanimously to adopt an official song for the City of Cortland. The official song title suits the city well, titled “Cortland” written by Cortland native, Jack Gerhard. Gerhard is the son of Council member Katy Silliman and Tim Gerhard.

Gerhard says he wrote the song, Cortland, a little over a year ago. Prior to the adoption of the song by the Common Council as the official song for the City of Cortland, Gerhard sang to the Council, Mayor, and those in attendance of Tuesday evenings Common Council meeting.

You can listen to the song through Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, and more by clicking the link, HERE. Lyrics to the song, Cortland, may be seen below.

I went home/
I’d been kicking up that dust for way too long/
On my own/
I’d begun to think I’d only
dreamt the place that I come from/
Cause when all is said and done it sits alright by me/
You can choose your life and most of what you’ll do/
But when it comes to growing up it ain’t that hard to see/
You can travel wide and be just where you are/
No matter where you go
Cortland ain’t that far/

So I drove/
Up 81 past Binghamton and down/
And I slowed/
When I got around to Marathon those cops they’ll run
you down/
And I thought I’d call ahead but I took my time/
And watched the way the leaves were turning slow/
Something bout the way that it all falls in line/
When I get home and play my dad’s guitar/
No matter where you go
Cortland ain’t that far/

And you go out/
And you find your way/
You’ll end up where you belong/
Just remember on those lonely days
there’s a place you can’t go wrong/

So I stayed/
I stuck around a little longer than I should/
Just a couple days/
Enough time to roast some pumpkin seeds and
split some firewood/
And that night we built the fire and we played
and sang/
sang about the best of who we are/
And the weather seemed to smile, without
clouds or rain/
And I stood so still and looked up at the stars/
No matter where you go Cortland ain’t that far/
Said no matter where you go Cortland ain’t that
far/
No matter where you go Cortland ain’t that far.