Oklahoma State Folk Song

"Oklahoma Hills"

Composed and Written by
Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie

Adopted on April 10, 2001.

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 State Folk Song: "Oklahoma Hills"

"Oklahoma Hills"

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

Origin of Song: "Oklahoma Hills"

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 Law

The law designating the song "Oklahoma Hills", composed and written by Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie as the official Oklahoma state folk song is found in the Oklahoma Statutes, Title 25, Section 25-94.8.

Title 25. Definitions and General Provisions
Chapter 3.- State Emblems and Honorary Positions

§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.