Oklahoma Hills
Hank Thompson And His Brazos Valley Boys Lyrics
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Since I wandered from my home
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Many a page of life has turned
Many a lesson I have learned
Yet I feel like in those hills, I still belong
Way down yonder in the Indian nationI rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
A way down yonder in the Indian nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I 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 Blackjack trees
Kiss the playful prairie breeze
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Way down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
A way down yonder in the Indian nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I born
Now as I turn life a page to the land of the great Osage
To those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Where the black oil rolls and flows
And the snow-white cotton grows
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
A way down yonder in the Indian nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I born
In the Oklahoma Hills where I born
The lyrics to Hank Thompson’s “Oklahoma Hills” tell a story of the singer’s longing for home. He begins by stating that it has been many months since he left the place where he was born and raised, the Oklahoma Hills. Despite the passage of time and the many changes in his life, he still feels that he belongs there. The imagery used in the song is vivid and paints a picture of the Oklahoma Hills - the Oak and Blackjack trees that “kiss the playful prairie breeze” and the black oil that “rolls and flows.”
The chorus repeats twice, emphasizing the singer's pride in his heritage and his longing for the Oklahoma Hills. He describes himself as a cowboy who has ridden his pony on the reservation in the Indian nation, which emphasizes the deep connection he feels to the land and the people who inhabit it. The final verse reflects on the singer's coming of age and the fact that he has started a new chapter in his life. However, he still thinks and dreams of the Oklahoma Hills, where he once rode his pony through the draw.
One of the interesting things about this song is that it was actually written by a man named Woody Guthrie, who was one of the most influential American folk musicians of the 20th century. Guthrie wrote the song in the 1940s, during the time of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. He was inspired by his experiences traveling through Oklahoma and seeing the struggles that people faced during that time. The song has since been covered by many different artists, including Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard.
Line by Line Meaning
Many months have come and gone
It's been a long time since I left my home
Since I wandered from my home
Since I left my birthplace
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
In the hills of Oklahoma, where I'm from
Many a page of life has turned
I've had many experiences in my life
Many a lesson I have learned
I've gained wisdom from those experiences
Yet I feel like in those hills, I still belong
Despite being away for a long time, I feel at home there
Way down yonder in the Indian nation
Way south in Indian Territory
I rode my pony on the reservation
I used to ride my horse on the Indian reservation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
I'm a cowboy
But as I sit here today
Now that I'm older and wiser
Many miles I am away
I'm far away from my birthplace
From the place I rode my pony through the draw
From where I used to ride my horse through the valley
Where the Oak and Blackjack trees
Where the oak and blackjack trees grow
Kiss the playful prairie breeze
Where the trees sway in the gentle breeze
Now as I turn life a page to the land of the great Osage
As I move on to the next chapter of my life
Where the black oil rolls and flows
Where the oil fields are
And the snow-white cotton grows
Where the cotton fields are
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
In the hills of Oklahoma, where I'm from
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Guthrie, Woody Guthrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@slh091464
That's my story, really. I grew up in Northeastern Oklahoma in the Cherokee Nation ... and I rode my pony there. I got married while stationed in Korea the first time. My wife and I have been married almost 30 years, we have 3 fantastic kids, have lived in 4 different countries including China even, are now on our 20th address today, and we're living in Busan, Korea.
But my roots are in Oklahoma. What a ride this farm boy from Cherokee country has had, but despite living in a city of 4 million halfway around the world, when I think of who I am, I always think of myself as a farm boy from Oklahoma ... despite the many pages of life that have turned.
Many months have come and gone
Since I wandered from my home
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Many a page of life has turned
Many a lesson I have learned
Yet I feel like in those hills I still belong
@carolynnbrower
Lyrics
Many months have come and gone
Since I wandered from my home
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Many a page of life has turned
Many a lesson I have learned
Yet I feel like in those hills, I still belong
Way down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
A-way down yonder in the Indian nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I 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 Blackjack trees
Kiss the playful prairie breeze
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
As I turn life a page to the land of the great Osage
To those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Where the black oil rolls and flows
And the snow-white cotton grows
In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born
Way down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode my pony on the reservation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I was born
A-way down yonder in the Indian nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In the Oklahoma Hills where I born
@Lightfoot40
I was born in the Cherokee Reservation in Tahlequah Oklahoma. I was raised in the hills of Cherokee County in an area called Lost City, 14 Mile Creek.
@JoshualynPrater
My grandma passed away on Jan 22, 2024. We laid her to rest on The 30th. She made it to almost 93 years old ( Feb 3rd ). We have a video of her singing this song and she said that would be a good song to play at her grave. So that's exactly what we did ❤ She was buried on my farm land in the "Oklahoma hills" and had an old timey type service out in the field with a pine box just like she wanted! It was a beautiful service and she would have LOVED it! ❤
@Cath-u1q
ooh what a cute tribute to your grandma!...thanks for sharing it with us! I'm sure that from her little cloud in Heaven she heard what you've done for her and she is proud! Hello from France.
@RC-id8yn
I was proud Hank called me a friend the last 10 years of his life. I too am a proud Okie. I want this song played at my funeral
@kinkajou777
Wow!
@CristalmagsOgden
Still alive?
@truthoverfacts9254
@@CristalmagsOgden Hank died in late 2007.
I got to go to his show in Pahrump,NV in 2004, held at an old honky tonk saloon.
@jackgatewood4579
In the 1950s, at the Choctaw gatherings at the LeFlore Co courthouse to see the Indian agent, Choctaw beauty contest and food was plentiful. And a little moonshine. Band always played this sing. Makes me long for the old days.
@sydneysanborn8555
I’m laying here crying at 2 o’clock in the morning, I am an Okie myself, My dad has stage 4 cancer and January my grandma that I was really close to passed at age 67 her birthday was December 2nd in October my great grandma passed, this song was played at both of the funerals. My great grandma and I didn’t seem super close but you don’t realize how close you are to somebody or something until they are gone. So I tell you please don’t take your family, friends, and even everyday activities 2020 has sucked for all of us but I really started thinking about this song for some reason and played it. It’s not easy but it also makes me feel better. I know god is with us and he knew that is good for me to cry sometimes and know that he and my grandmas are with me.
@dennisfox614
My Momma and Daddy is up at Highland Cemetery.
Daddy sang this to me when I was baby.
Miss them so.