Oklahoma
Curly and Laurey gather with friends and family to celebrate their marriage and Oklahoma’s pending statehood.
During the creation of Oklahoma!, producer Theresa Helburn suggested Hammerstein write “a song about the earth.” The resulting song was so successful, it became the new title of the musical. “Oklahoma” draws an important parallel between two of the show’s central themes: the characters’ restless anticipation of their union of matrimony, and the social anxieties around the territory joining the Union.
With its optimistic message and rousing chorus, it’s no wonder this classic of the American musical theater was later named Oklahoma’s official state song.
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“Oklahoma” LYRICS
Aunt Eller:
They couldn’t pick a better time to start in life—
Ike Skidmore:
It ain’t too early and it ain’t too late.
Curly:
Startin’ as a farmer with a brand-new wife—
Laurey:
Soon be livin’ in a brand-new state!
All:
Brand-new state
Gonna treat you great!
Fred:
Gonna give you barley,
Carrots and pertaters—
Cord Elam:
Pasture fer the cattle—
Andrew Carnes:
Spinach and termayters!
Aunt Eller:
Flowers on the prairie where the
June bugs zoom—
Ike Skidmore:
Plen’y of air and plen’y of room—
Fred:
Plen’y of room to swing a rope—
Aunt Eller:
Plen’y of heart and plen’y of hope.
Curly:
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!
Every 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:
Yee-ow! A-yip-i-o-ee-ay!
We’re only sayin’,
You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma, O.K.!
All:
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!
Every 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.
Yip-ee-i, Yip-ee-i,
Yip-ee-i, Yip-ee-i,
Yip-ee-i, Yip-ee-i!
And when we say:
Yee-ow! A-yip-i-o-ee-ay!
We’re only sayin’,
You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma, O.K.!
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Oklahoma, Oklahoma…
We know we belong to the land,
And the land we belong to is grand.
And when we say:
Yee-ow! A-yip-i-o-ee-ay!
We’re only sayin’,
You’re doin’ fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma,
O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A…
Oklahoma!
Yee-ow!
“Oklahoma” (Rodgers/Hammerstein II)
© 1943, Copyright Renewed, Williamson Music Company (ASCAP) c/o Concord Music Publishing.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.