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The Oklahoma State Folk Song

Oklahoma Hills

words and music by Woody and Jack Guthrie

    Many a month has come and gone
    Since I’ve wandered from my home
    In those Oklahoma Hills
    Where I was born
    Many a page of my life has turned
    Many lessons I have learned
    And I feel like in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS:
    Way down yonder in the Indian nation
    Ridin’ my pony on the reservation
    In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
    Way down yonder in the Indian nation
    A 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 black-jack trees
    Kiss the playful prairie breeze
    And I feel back in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS

    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
    And I feel like in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS

Adoption of State Folk Song

The song, "Oklahoma Hills", words and music by Woody and Jack Guthrie, was adopted by the Oklahoma Legislature as the official folk song of Oklahoma on April 5, 2001. It was signed into law by the Governor on April 10, 2001.

Oklahoma General Statutes

The following information is excerpted from the Oklahoma Statutes. Within Title 25 of the code, there are three sections related to the state folk song. The first declares that the words and music of "Oklahoma Hills" are the official folk song of Oklahoma. A provision is also made for the custody of the the official state song: the State Librarian at the State Library. Thirdly, the words to the song are codified in the Oklahoma Statutes.

TITLE 25. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

§25-94.8. State Folk Song. The official Oklahoma State Folk Song is hereby declared to be the words and music of the song "Oklahoma Hills", composed and written by Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie. Except for nonprofit educational use, state use of the state folk song shall be preceded by notice of the intended nonprofit use to the copyright holder.

    Added by Laws 2001, c. 47, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.

§25-94.9. Official depository of the state folk song. The State Library shall be the official depository of the official Oklahoma State Folk Song, and the State Librarian shall cause a copy thereof to be kept in the State Library.

    Added by Laws 2001, c. 47, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.

§25-94.10. Lyrics to state folk song. The words to the Oklahoma State Folk Song, "Oklahoma Hills", words and music by Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie, are as follows:

    Many a month has come and gone
    Since I’ve wandered from my home
    In those Oklahoma Hills
    Where I was born
    Many a page of my life has turned
    Many lessons I have learned
    And I feel like in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS:
    Way down yonder in the Indian nation
    Ridin’ my pony on the reservation
    In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
    Way down yonder in the Indian nation
    A 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 black-jack trees
    Kiss the playful prairie breeze
    And I feel back in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS

    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
    And I feel like in those hills
    Where I belong

   CHORUS

©Renewed 1973 Michael H. Goldsen, Inc.
Added by Laws 2001, c. 47, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.

Source: Oklahoma State Web Site, (http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/), December 4, 2004
Source: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols by Benjamin F. Shearer and Barbara S. Shearer, Copyright 2002

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