Oklahoma U.S.A.
"Oklahoma U.S.A." | |
---|---|
Song by The Kinks | |
from the album Muswell Hillbillies | |
Released | 24 Nov, 1971 (US LP), 26 Nov, 1971 (UK LP) |
Recorded | Aug–Sep 1971 at Morgan Studios, Willesden, London |
Length | 2:38 |
Label | RCA Victor |
Songwriter(s) | Ray Davies |
Producer(s) | Ray Davies |
Oklahoma U.S.A. is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by British rock band The Kinks on their 1971 LP Muswell Hillbillies.[1]
Synopsis
The lyrics describe a young woman who leads a monotonous working class life, and imagines in her dreams she is in various Hollywood films, such as Oklahoma! ("But in her dreams she is far away/ In Oklahoma U.S.A./ With Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae").[2][3] As the song progresses and she goes on with life she continues to dream of Oklahoma and Hollywood ("She walks to work but she's still in a daze/ She's Rita Hayworth or Doris Day/ And Errol Flynn's gonna take her away/ To Oklahoma U.S.A."). The song opens and closes with the lyrics "All life we work, but work is a bore./ If life's for livin', then what's livin' for?"[2][3]
Instrumentation
The piece differs from the other songs on Muswell Hillbillies in the fact that it features a much quieter sound and overall feel. Mick Avory's drums are absent, and the only instruments used are an acoustic guitar, accordion, and keyboards (piano/organ).
Cover versions
Indie rock group Yo La Tengo covered it on their 1990 album Fakebook.[4] Country artist Lauren Adams covered it on her album Secret Heart,[5] and Leigh Harris recorded a version on the album House of Secrets.[6]
References
General
- Paper by Alex DiBlasi on Muswell Hillbillies
- Chart Positions
- Amazon Listing for Muswell Hillbillies
In-Line Citations
- v
- t
- e
(UK & US)
- 1965
- "Tired of Waiting for You"
- "Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy"
- "Set Me Free"
- "See My Friends"
- "Who'll Be the Next in Line"
- "A Well Respected Man"
- "Till the End of the Day"
- 1966
- "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"
- "Sunny Afternoon"
- "Dead End Street"
- 1967
- "Mister Pleasant"
- "Waterloo Sunset"
- "Death of a Clown" (Dave Davies solo)
- "Autumn Almanac"
- "Susannah's Still Alive" (Dave Davies solo)
- 1968
- "Wonderboy"
- "Days"
- "Lincoln County" (Dave Davies solo)
- 1969
- "Starstruck"
- "Hold My Hand" (Dave Davies solo)
- "Plastic Man"
- "Drivin'"
- "The Village Green Preservation Society"
- "Shangri-La"
- "Victoria"
(UK & US)
- 1970
- "Lola"
- "Apeman"
- 1971
- "God's Children"
- "20th Century Man"
- 1972
- "Supersonic Rocket Ship"
- "Celluloid Heroes"
- 1973
- "One of the Survivors"
- "Sitting in the Midday Sun"
- "Sweet Lady Genevieve"
- "Where Have All the Good Times Gone"
- 1974
- "Money Talks"
- "Mirror of Love"
- "Mirror of Love" (band version)
- "Holiday Romance"
- "Preservation"
- 1975
- "Everybody's a Star (Starmaker)"
- "Ducks on the Wall"
- "You Can't Stop the Music"
- 1976
- "I'm in Disgrace"
- "No More Looking Back"
- 1977
- "Sleepwalker"
- "Juke Box Music"
- "Father Christmas"
- 1978
- "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy"
- "Live Life"
- "Black Messiah"
- 1979
- "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman"
- "A Gallon of Gas"
- "Catch Me Now I'm Falling"
- "Moving Pictures"
- "Pressure"
(UK & US)
- 1980
- "Lola" (live)
- "You Really Got Me" (live)
- 1981
- "Better Things"
- "Destroyer"
- "Predictable"
- 1982
- "Come Dancing"
- 1983
- "Don't Forget to Dance"
- 1984
- "Good Day"
- "Do It Again"
- 1985
- "Living on a Thin Line" (radio promo only)
- "Summer's Gone"
- 1986
- "Rock 'n' Roll Cities"
- "How Are You"
- 1987
- "Lost and Found"
- 1988
- "The Road"
- 1989
- "Down All the Days (Till 1992)"
(UK & US)
- 1990
- "How Do I Get Close"
- 1993
- "Only a Dream"
- "Scattered"
(non-UK/US)
- 1966
- "Dandy" (Europe)
- 1969
- "Picture Book" (Australia)
- "Australia" (Australia)
- 1983
- "State of Confusion" (Germany)
- 1991
- "Did Ya" (Europe)
- "So Mystifying"
- "Bald Headed Woman"
- "Stop Your Sobbing"
- "Dancing in the Street"
- "I Need You"
- "I Go to Sleep"
- "I'm Not Like Everybody Else"
- "Big Black Smoke"
- "Party Line"
- "Rosy Won't You Please Come Home"
- "Love Me Till the Sun Shines"
- "David Watts"
- "Two Sisters"
- "Polly"
- "She's Got Everything"
- "Do You Remember Walter?"
- "Johnny Thunder"
- "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains"
- "Big Sky"
- "Sitting by the Riverside"
- "Animal Farm"
- "Village Green"
- "Phenomenal Cat"
- "All of My Friends Were There"
- "Wicked Annabella"
- "Monica"
- "People Take Pictures of Each Other"
- "Berkeley Mews"
- "Mr. Churchill Says"
- "Strangers"
- "This Time Tomorrow"
- "Rats"
- "Got to Be Free"
- "Have a Cuppa Tea"
- "Oklahoma U.S.A."
- "Muswell Hillbilly"
- "Sitting in My Hotel"
- "The Hard Way"
- "Life Goes On"
- "Misfits"
- "Attitude"
- "Low Budget"
- "Give the People What They Want"
- "Heart of Gold"