Saturday, October 3, 2009

Oklahoma

I'm going in. Wish me luck.















Ooook-lahoma, 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, Ev'ry 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
Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma O.K.

(We had to memorize this song from the musical in grade school growing up in... OKLAHOMA. Not OK!)

8 comments:

Frances said...

Not OK? What are talking about, dissing my native state? We sang this song every single day at school, along with the national anthem, the school song, reciting the preamble along with the pledge of allegiance. I still will sing the whole thing when a talent show crops up when we gather with family and friends. This is my talent. You should see what other people's talents are. The Financier juggles. What would your talent be?

I am aware of a slight rivalry between Oklahoma and Nebraska. :-)

Frances

Chloe m said...

That was a great comment you just got.
You still have that song memorized?

Have fun in OK.

Rosey

Benjamin Vogt said...

Frances--Yo yo yo, dissing indeed. And more to come. But I have a hate love hate relationship with my birth state. And nota bene--I am NOT a cornhusker, no freaking way. I'm a Minnesota Gopher. My next book will be on Oklahoma, family immigration to U.S., it's unique 8-9 region ecosystems, native americans, and whatever I have to work out with this place. My talent is beat boxing.
Rosey--I remember only a few lines. Thank goodness! It's always this song and some French one we had to perform in middle school from Les Miserables.

our friend Ben said...

Whew, thank God I don't watch musicals, I really couldn't stand it. And hey, I love Minnesota! (But admittedly I've never been there in winter or blackfly season.) Sounds like a great book topic.

Frances said...

Ooooh, I can't wait to hear about this new book! My family was there well before statehood, although that was not that long ago, state speaking. Sorry about the cornhusker thing, too. What town do you claim as yours in Okieland?

F

Pam said...

I went to Oklahoma for the first time last spring - to give an invited seminar. I guess I left thinking 'I'm not THAT in to football'. They're nuts! I wish I could have gotten out in the countryside some, but it was just a short visit.

Layanee said...

I love that name...Oklahoma as it just rolls off the tongue. Never been there but there is still time. Sounds like there is good, clean, livin' there.

Benjamin Vogt said...

Frances--Corn and Weatherford. My great great grandparents came over in the 1880s, well before statehood in 1907.
Pam and Layanee--Boomer sooner! they are INSANE about football there, but the team sucks this year. I was at a Burger King in Wichita, KS and they were playing Christian music--real bible belt. Hard living, hot living.