The piece is sung in a schottische or "soft-shoe" rhythm.
In the lyrics, the reserved and stoic citizens of River City, Iowa seek to persuade a visitor (who turns out to be the musical's protagonist, Professor Harold Hill) to "give Iowa a try."
Wilson lived in Iowa until he was 16 years old, and in his autobiography, he describes the concept of Iowa stubbornness this way: "My brother is a very smart man in the industrial field.
I don't mind telling that to you, but it's the first time I've ever told it to him.
"[1] Eight Iowa cities are named near the end of the song, in the following order: The song has been praised for representing both the service-oriented friendliness and the irrefragable conservativism characteristic of Iowans.