Oklahloma State Land Run Song

The Oklahoma Run Adopted: March 26, 2009

The Oklahoma Run

by Harold Fletcher

   It was April twenty second
   in the Spring of 'eighty nine
   There were settlers by the thousands;
   they were gathered on the line.
   And they came from all directions,
   there were wagons by the score
   to stake a claim out on the plain. 
   Here's what they waited for;

   To Run! Run! Run! Run!
   In the Oklahoma Run!
   Fifty thousand people a waitin' for the gun!
   For Land! Land! Land! Land!
   Oklahoma Land!
   They came out here to the last Frontier across the Cimeron to run!

   Near two million acres,
   not enough to go around.
   If he had no transportation
   A man's luck soon ran down.
   They could hold 'em back no longer
   and at noon they crossed the line.
   By horse and train across the plain
   to what they hope to find.

   To Run! Run! Run! Run!
   In the Oklahoma Run!
   Fifty thousand people a waitin' for the gun!
   For Land! Land! Land! Land!
   Oklahoma Land!
   They came out here to the last Frontier across the Cimeron to run!
   It was run!

Official House Resolution No. 1002

"The Oklahoma Run" was composed in 1972 by Herald Fletcher, Oklahoma Christian University Professor Emeritus of music. It was written for a documentary on Bryant Baker's bronze Pioneer Woman statue, unveiled on April 22, 1930. The famous statute resides across the street from it's namesake museum in Ponca City.

House Resolution No. 1002 was introduced by State Representative Ken Miller, a professor of economics at Oklahoma Christian University, on February 2, 2009 and was fully considered and adopted by the Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 26, 2009.

ENROLLED HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 1002 By: Miller

A Resolution relating to state songs; recognizing "The Oklahoma Run" as the Oklahoma State Land Run Song; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, The Oklahoma Land Run of 1889 was a critical event in the history of Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, Harold Fletcher, professor emeritus of music at Oklahoma Christian University, composed and wrote the song "The Oklahoma Run"; and

WHEREAS, "The Oklahoma Run" captures the independence and frontier spirit of Oklahomans; and

WHEREAS, Oklahoma's historical land run has been captured musically and enriched by "The Oklahoma Run".

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT "The Oklahoma Run" is hereby recognized as the Oklahoma State Land Run Song.

THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the Governor, the president of Oklahoma Christian University, and Harold Fletcher, composer of "The Oklahoma Run".

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 26th day of March, 2009.

The song, "The Oklahoma Run" won a competition sponsored by The Oklahoma Heritage Society and the Oklahoma Broadcasters Association for a song about Oklahoma history. It became the first song in a six-song set referred to as "The Oklahoma Set."

Oklahoma Christian University offers The Oklahoma Set at no charge over the internet.

Sources...

The Oklahoma Legislature. Legislative Service Bureau <http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/WebBillStatus/main.html> Accessed February 12, 2011.
Oklahoma Christian University. The Talon Online <http://blogs.oc.edu/talon/cat/fletchers_work_named_state_land_run_song/> Accessed February 12, 2011.
Oklahoma Christian University. Oklahoma Christian News <http://blogs.oc.edu/ocnews/song_penned_by_oc_professor_to_be_named_oklahoma_land_run_song/> Accessed February 12, 2011.
Oklahoma Christian University. Department of Music <http://www.oc.edu/academics/arts_sciences/music/> Accessed February 13, 2011.

Additional Information

Music for the Oklahoma Centennial: a gift from Oklahoma Christian University. The Oklahoma Set -- An Oklahoma Christian University Centennial Project.