Western Song: Oklahoma!
Oklahoma is the title song from the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma!, named for the setting of the musical show. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the music and lyrics. The melody was again altered in the main title of the 1955 version of the film and in the overtures of both filmmaking and musical. Members of the Western Writers of America included the song as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.
According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, “Oklahoma – A Toast” is the first state song. Mrs. Harriett Parker Camden, a resident of Kingfisher, Oklahoma wrote it in 1905. On March 26, 1935, it became a hit within the state and was chosen as the state song by the legislature.
The song also serves as one of the University of Oklahoma’s main songs. It plays as one of the hourly tunes from the bell tower on campus. The Pride of Oklahoma also played the song at various Oklahoma Sooners athletic events and other campus events.
Popular Recordings
Many artists covered the song and some of the notable versions were recorded by:
- Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts, Betty Garde, Barry Kelley & Edwin Clay
- Gracie Fields
- Gordon MacRae, Charlotte Greenwood, James Whitmore, Shirley Jones & Jay C. Flippen with Mixed Chorus
- John Hanson & Doreen Hume with The Embassy Chorus and Orchestra
- Royale Operetta Singers and Orchestra
- Ray Conniff and His Orchestra and Chorus
- Richard Kiley
- Pro Musica
- John Hanson
- Louis Clark conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Dave Kelly
- Eric DeGray
- Sutton Foster
In Albums
The song has also been released in the tracklist of the albums below:
- Broadway in Rhythm
- Rodgers and Hammerstein Songbook
- Pro musical
- Rodgers and Hammerstein Favourites
- …When the Blues Come to Call…
- Bound for Broadway
- Wish
Listen (Richard Kiley Version)
Oklahoma! Lyrics
Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right behind the rain. Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Makin' lazy circles in the sky. We know we belong to the land And the land we belong to is grand! And when we say Yeeow! Ayipioeeay! We're only sayin' You're doin' fine, Oklahoma! Oklahoma O.K. Brand new state! Brand new state, gonna treat you great! Gonna give you barley, carrots and pertaters, Pasture fer the cattle, Spinach and termayters! Flowers on the prarie where the June bugs zoom, Plen'y of air and plen'y of room, Plen'y of room to swing a rope! Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope. Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right behind the rain. Oklahoma, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Makin' lazy circles in the sky. We know we belong to the land And the land we belong to is grand! And when we say Yeeow! Ayipioeeay! We're only sayin' You're doin' fine, Oklahoma! Oklahoma O.K.
