Introduction:
“Okie from Muskogee,” a collaborative effort between country music giants Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, became a cultural phenomenon upon its release in 1969. The song, a patriotic anthem that celebrated traditional American values, rose to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 41. However, “Okie from Muskogee” was more than just a hit song. It became a flashpoint for cultural and political tensions simmering in the United States during the late 1960s.
Merle Haggard, a rising country star known for his songs about working-class struggles and the hardships faced by the Great Depression generation, had a personal connection to the song’s title. The term “Okie” originated as a derogatory slur aimed at migrants from Oklahoma and other Dust Bowl states who fled westward during the 1930s. Haggard himself was the son of Okie migrants, and he had experienced the prejudice they faced firsthand.
Willie Nelson, another future country music legend, was already established as a successful songwriter by 1969. Though their paths would diverge later in their careers, Haggard and Nelson shared a common background in working-class America. Haggard had previously recorded a song titled “The Fightin’ Side of Me” in 1965, which expressed similar patriotic sentiments.
“Okie from Muskogee” was produced by Fuzzy Owen, a longtime collaborator with Haggard. Owen had helped shape the Bakersfield sound, a subgenre of country characterized by its electric guitars, prominent fiddles, and bluesy Bakersfield sound. This sound gave “Okie from Muskogee” a distinctive edge that helped it stand out from more traditional country fare.
The song’s lyrics offered a straightforward celebration of American patriotism and traditional values. The narrator proudly proclaims his love for his country and his disapproval of the counterculture movement gaining momentum in the late 1960s. Lines like “We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee / We don’t take no trips on LSD” and “We wave Old Glory down at the courthouse / And white lightning’s still the biggest thrill of all” crystallized the cultural divide between rural America and the anti-establishment movements of the time.
“Okie from Muskogee” was a controversial song from the moment it was released. Critics on the left derided it as simplistic and out of touch. However, the song resonated with many Americans who felt disenfranchised by the social and political upheaval of the era. “Okie from Muskogee” became an anthem for those who felt their way of life was under attack. The song’s success cemented Merle Haggard’s status as a voice for working-class conservatism within country music.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Okie From Muskogee”
We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee;
We don’t take our trips on LSD
We don’t burn no draft cards down on Main Street;
We like livin’ right, and bein’ free.Yes, sir
We don’t make a party out of lovin’;
We like holdin’ hands and pitchin’ woo;
We don’t let our hair grow long and nasty and dirty,
Like the hippies out in San Francisco do.Everybody sing one time
I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball.
Yes, sir
We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightning’s still the biggest thrill of all.Leather boots are still in style for manly footwear;
Beads and Roman sandals won’t be seen.
And football’s still the roughest thing on campus,
And the kids they still respect the college dean.And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee,
A place where even squares can have a ball.
And we still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
And white lightning’s still the biggest thrill of all.We still wave Old Glory down at the courthouse,
In Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA.