OKLAHOMA HILLS

Original Woody Guthrie version

Many a month has 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
Well, I feel like in those hills I still belong

'Way down yonder in the Indian Nation
Ridin' my pony on the reservation
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Now, 'way down yonder in the Indian Nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born

But as I sit here today
Many miles I am away
From a place I rode my pony through the draw
While 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
Ridin' my pony on the reservation
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Now, 'way down yonder in the Indian Nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation'
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born

Now as I turn life a page
To the land of the great Osage
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
While the black oil it rolls and flows
And the snow-white cotton grows
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born

'Way down yonder in the Indian Nation
Ridin' my pony on the reservation
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born
Now, 'way down yonder in the Indian Nation
A cowboy's life is my occupation
In those Oklahoma hills where I was born

Page last updated: 05 Sep 2007

Words and music by Woody Guthrie and Jack Guthrie. The song is Woody's original, and Jack made some changes and refinements in his cousin's song, effectively earning a co-authorship credit.

The above lyrics are for the original Woody Guthrie version. See also Bruce Springsteen's live 28 Apr 2005 version (more details) and live 14 Jan 2006 version.