Home on the Range (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Home on the Range is the state song of Kansas. Dr. Brewster Higley originally wrote the words in a poem called "My Western Home." He wrote it in the early 1870s in Smith County. The music was written by a friend of Higley's named Daniel Kelley. Higley's original words are similar to those of the song today but not identical. The song was picked up by settlers, cowboys, and others and spread across the nation in various forms. In the early 20th century, it was arranged by Texas composer David Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer. It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947.
In 1994 singer/songwriter Tori Amos, who is part Cherokee, wrote additional lyrics for the song and released a recording of it on her single to the song God called "Home on the Range (Cherokee Edition)". (It was sometimes mis-titled in printings as "With Cherokee Addition"). Amos re-envisioned the song as a lament by Native American peoples due to the betrayal of Andrew Jackson and the resulting Trail of Tears.
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
- Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam
- Where the deer and the antelope play
- Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
- And the skies are not cloudy all day
- Chorus
- Home, home on the range
- Where the deer and the antelope play
- Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
- And the skies are not cloudy all day
- How often at night, where the heavens are bright
- With the light of the glittering stars
- Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
- If their glory exceeds that of ours
- Chorus
- Then give me a land where the bright diamond sand
- Flows leisurely down to the stream
- Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along
- Like a maid in a heavenly dream
- Oh I would not exchange my old home on the range
- Where the deer and the antelope play
- Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
- And the skies are not cloudy all day
[edit] Tori Amos' additional lyrics
- Well Jackson made deals, a thief down to his heels
- Hello trail of tears
- The Smokies could hide a Cherokee bride
- Her brave was shot yesterday.
Chorus
- We know it’s not Caroline
- Your home is your home
- The range may be fine for some but not in my eyes
- Home, home on the range,
- The Smokies always hide a
- Cherokee bride but in her eyes
- We know it’s not Caroline.
- America, America
- Who discovered your ass?
- The white man came: "This land is my land,
- This is your land" they sang
Chorus
[edit] Media
- Home on the Range (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- A recording of the song from Raiford Penitentiary, Florida, 1939.
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
