Oklahoma State Land Run Song

"The Oklahoma Run "

by Harold Fletcher

Adopted on February 3, 1988.

The song, "The Oklahoma Run ", with words and music attributed to John Wills and Bob Wills, was adopted by Senate Concurrent Resolution 65 as the official state country and western song of Oklahoma on February 3, 1988.

Oklahoma State Land Run Song:
"The Oklahoma Run "

"The Oklahoma Run "

It was April twenty second
in the Spring of 'eighty nine
There were settlers by the thousands;
they were gathered on the line.
And they came from all directions,
there were wagons by the score
to stake a claim out on the plain.
Here's what they waited for;

To Run! Run! Run! Run!
In the Oklahoma Run!
Fifty thousand people a waitin' for the gun!
For Land! Land! Land! Land!
Oklahoma Land!
They came out here to the last Frontier across the Cimeron to run!

Near two million acres,
not enough to go around.
If he had no transportation
A man's luck soon ran down.
They could hold 'em back no longer
and at noon they crossed the line.
By horse and train across the plain
to what they hope to find.

To Run! Run! Run! Run!
In the Oklahoma Run!
Fifty thousand people a waitin' for the gun!
For Land! Land! Land! Land!
Oklahoma Land!
They came out here to the last Frontier across the Cimeron to run!
It was run!

Origin of Song: "The Oklahoma Run "

"The Oklahoma Run" was composed in 1972 by Herald Fletcher, Oklahoma Christian University Professor Emeritus of music. It was written for a documentary on Bryant Baker's bronze Pioneer Woman statue, unveiled on April 22, 1930.

House Resolution No. 1002 was introduced by State Representative Ken Miller, a professor of economics at Oklahoma Christian University, on February 2, 2009 and was fully considered and adopted by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 26, 2009.

Oklahoma House Resolution Number 1002

ENROLLED HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 1002 By: Miller

A Resolution relating to state songs; recognizing "The Oklahoma Run" as the Oklahoma State Land Run Song; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, The Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 was a critical event in the history of Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, Harold Fletcher, professor emeritus of music at Oklahoma Christian University, composed and wrote the song "The Oklahoma Run"; and

WHEREAS, "The Oklahoma Run" captures the independence and frontier spirit of Oklahomans; and

WHEREAS, Oklahoma's historical land run has been captured musically and enriched by "The Oklahoma Run".

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT "The Oklahoma Run" is hereby recognized as the Oklahoma State Land Run Song.

THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the Governor, the president of Oklahoma Christian University, and Harold Fletcher, composer of "The Oklahoma Run".

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 26th day of March, 2009.