I miss Oklahoma Her boundless, rolling land The tallgrass hair She twirls in her hand A paintbrush wildflower, with her arms red and tan Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens I'm going back the country To see what all this means California's dreaming Her desert under clouds LA becomes a dancer In a shroud Calls to me sweetly, but her traffic is too loud Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens I'm going back the country To see what all this means Everywhere's on fire Or under the sea The earth is shaking Down Tornado Alley And I'm often scared, home won't be there Waiting for me Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens I'm going back the country To see what all this means The long-worn ribbon Tying up our towns I'm always in the middle When it comes unwound If I was ever choking, you were there to cut me down Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens I'm going back the country To see what all this means The emeralds of your eyes The topaz of your skin And a diamond heart too hard To let me in The prairie birds rest upon the crown placed on your head Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens I'm going back the country To see what all this means The Trinity is still now Electric fences hum I'll never see I-35 Be done And Corinth, you'll be singing a song to hush your son Gather 'round you cowboys And all you canyon queens Life is for living And nothing's what it seems