| Oklahoma Hills | |
| Prefix: | Regional |
| Country: | Oklahoma |
| Author: | Woody Guthrie |
| Lyrics Date: | 1945 |
| Composer: | Jack Guthrie |
| Music Date: | 1945 |
"Oklahoma Hills" is a song written by Woody Guthrie. In 2001 it was named the official Folk Song of the state of Oklahoma.
Way down yonder in the Indian nation
I rode 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
Jack Guthrie, Woody's cousin, changed the lyrics and music slightly and in 1945 recorded a Western swing version, which reached Number 1 on the Juke Box Folk Records charts.[1] It remains the best-known version of "Oklahoma Hills", and was the biggest hit of Jack Guthrie's fairly short life. Though Woody originated the song, the official Woody Guthrie website credits both him and Jack as its writers, perhaps because Jack's changes have become so well known.
Recordings of "Oklahoma Hills" have been made by these singers, among others:
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[3] In 2001, the Oklahoma Legislature declared it to be the official state folk song.