The Sons of the Pioneers did several songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master (in 1949) and Rio Grande in (1950).
The six members who made the Sons of the Pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their close-harmonied western style music were elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1995, they were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 1977, the Smithsonian designated the Sons of the Pioneers as "national treasures". Through many changes to the line-up, the Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform.
The Everlasting Hills Of Oklahoma
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They hold a million treasures to be found
Golden grain on hills of green
Wave to valleys cool and clean
Too bad some folks have never seen
The everlasting hills of Oklahoma
The everlasting tales of Oklahoma
Pioneers who long have gone
Their wagon wheels still rumble on
When thunder peals and falls upon
The everlasting hills of Oklahoma
The everlasting hills of Oklahoma
Will live in name of men she claimed her own
Some were right and some were wrong
In history's pages, prose and song
Oh, hail them now for they all belong
To the everlasting hills of Oklahoma
The song, "The Everlasting Hills of Oklahoma" by the Sons of the Pioneers, speaks to the beauty and history of Oklahoma. The lyrics describe the everlasting hills of the state, which are said to hold a million treasures that are waiting to be discovered. The hills are characterized by golden grain on hills of green that wave to valleys which are cool and clean. However, despite the beauty of these hills, it is unfortunate that some people have never seen them.
The song also speaks about the everlasting tales of Oklahoma, which are told through the clouded statues in the sky. The pioneers who have long gone are still remembered as their wagon wheels still rumble on, especially during thunder peals and falls upon the everlasting hills of Oklahoma. The song is a tribute to those who have claimed Oklahoma and those that belong to it, both the right ones and the wrong ones. It acknowledges that they have all played a part in the state's history and that they will all be remembered as belonging to the everlasting hills of Oklahoma.
Line by Line Meaning
The everlasting hills of Oklahoma
Oklahoma's hills are durable and unchanging
They hold a million treasures to be found
The hills contain many valuable resources
Golden grain on hills of green
The hills have fields of grain that shimmer like gold on green backgrounds
Wave to valleys cool and clean
The hills seem to gently roll down into fresh and untainted valleys
Too bad some folks have never seen
It is unfortunate that some people have not had the opportunity to witness these sights
The everlasting tales of Oklahoma
Oklahoma also has storied history that has been passed down over time
Are told in clouded statues in the sky
The clouds in the sky are metaphorical statues that contain the stories of the past
Pioneers who long have gone
The pioneers, who have long since passed away, have left their mark on Oklahoma
Their wagon wheels still rumble on
Even though the pioneers are long gone, their impact can still be felt through the trails they left behind
When thunder peals and falls upon
Oklahoma's storms serve as reminders of the pioneers' struggles and perseverance
The everlasting hills of Oklahoma
Once again, the song repeats that Oklahoma's hills are constant and never-changing
Will live in name of men she claimed her own
Oklahoma's hills will be forever linked to the people who have made their homes there
Some were right and some were wrong
Not all of those who claimed the hills were perfect, but they all left their mark
In history's pages, prose and song
Oklahoma's history has been recorded in many different formats
Oh, hail them now for they all belong
The people and their impact on the hills should be remembered and celebrated
To the everlasting hills of Oklahoma
Once again, the song reminds us of the hills' unchanging nature
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Girish Patil
I m from India and PhD student in OSU . Got to know this beautiful song thanks to ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’. I just love this song and Oklahoma!
VELVETLASHVAN
Same here Girish! I love the show! I’m excited for season 4!!! Coming soon!!
Ludi Volc
Me too!
whalesong999
These gentlemen and their music were standard fare on the radio when I was a young boy on a small farm in the late '40s and into the '50s. So good to hear their soulful harmony again, from a Kansas neighbor. (understated praise..)
Kansas Adventure
Kansas also so I've been to Oklahoma where some of my family lived. Great song though
mr. warmth
+roger huff i live in kansas ty
mr. warmth
+whalesong999 ty amigo
Frances Hixenbaugh
This brings back memories of my childhood in WWII. I loved Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and the Sons of the Pioneers! You'll never find any better harmony than these gentlemen had. I'm so happy that they wrote a song about my State: OKLAHOMA---born and bred here, and....PROUD OF IT!
Kasia Thorlakson
the melody of this tune just hits my heart strings! I love it!
Barbie Lee
When harmony meant voices blended, when the voice was the main part of the song. I remember a lot of the songs these gentlemen did. This one I had never heard. Thank you for putting it out so those of us who loved these singers could enjoy them again, and again. An Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl