“Oklahoma Hills” is a song written by singer-songwriters and cousins Jack Guthrie and Woody Guthrie. Jack Guthrie and His Oklahomans popularized “Oklahoma Hills” when they first recorded and released it as a single in 1945. Woody originally wrote the song, but they decided to share the copyright for it, as the changes made by Jack became so well-known and accepted by the public. Hence, it became a country-western hit, reaching the top spot on the Juke Box Folk Records charts. 

Various artists covered and recorded their versions of the song. For instance, one of the most popular versions was by Hank Thompson with The Brazos Valley Boys in 1962. Moreover, the song was part of their album entitled Cheyenne Frontier Days.

“Oklahoma Hills” also serves as the official state folk song of Oklahoma under the declaration of the Oklahoma Legislature in 2001. Additionally, members of the Western Writers of America voted to include it in the Top 100 Western songs of all time. 

Popular Recordings

Dozens of covers/versions of the song have been recorded since its release. These recordings include those by:

• “T” Texas Tyler and His Oklahoma Melody Boys
• Oklahoma Ed Moody
• Jim Reeves
• Eddy Arnold
• Gary Buck
• Tommy Collins
• Hank Thompson and The Brazos Valley Boys
• Chet Atkins
• Marvin Rainwater
• Michael Parks
• Arlo Guthrie
• Mary McCaslin
• Freddy Casby
• Ian Tyson
• Charlie Feathers
• Toby Keith
• Erin Hay
• Bob Wills
• Buck Owens
• Ian Greig
• Evan Johns

Listen to Oklahoma Hills (Hank Thompson Version)

Oklahoma Hills Lyrics

Many months have come and gone
Since I wandered from my home
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Many a page of life has turned
Many a lesson I have learned
Yet I feel like in those hills I still belong.

Away down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born
Away down yonder in the Indian nation
The cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born.

But as I sit here today many miles I am away
From the place I rode my pony through the draw
Where the oak and blackjack trees
Kiss the playful prairie breeze
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born.

Away down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born
Away down yonder in the Indian nation
The cowboy's life was my occupation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born.

[Instrumental]

Now as I turn life a page
To the land of the great osage
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Where the black oil rolls and flows
And the snow white cotton grows
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born.

Away down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born
Away down yonder in the Indian nation
The cowboy's life was my occupation
In the Oklahoma hills where I was born.

In the Oklahoma hills where I was born.