Blackjack

[dun]

In the Hank Thompson song "In the Oklahoma hills, etc", he mentions oaks and blackjacks. We have blackjack oaks, is there a seperate tree/bush/whatever refered to as blackjack in OK?

dun

 

[cherokeeruby]

Here are the lyrics and chords (corrections and enhancements welcomed)
to a song called "Oklahoma Hills". The song was co-written by Jack
Guthrie and his cousing Woodie Guthrie and became a hit in 1945. The
version I have sourced for this submission is performed by Jack Guthrie
& His Oklahomans and was taken from an EMI (Capitol) album - Catalogue
No. SCA.045 entitled "Country Music Is Here To Stay" Vol 1.

Key = Eb
Intro = Eb - Eb - Ab - F#7 - Bb7 - Bb7 - Eb - Bb7

Eb Ab F#7
Many Months Have Come And Gone Since I Wandered From My Home
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born
Eb Ab F#7
Many A Page Of Life Has Turned - Many A Lesson I Have Learned
Bb7 Eb Bb7
Well I Feel Like In Those Hills I Still Be-long

CHORUS
Eb Ab F#7
Way Down Yonder In The Indian Nation I Ride My Pony On The Reservation
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born
Eb Ab F#7
Now Way Down Yonder In The Indian Nation A Cowboy's Life Is My
Occupation
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born

Instrumental Break : Same Chord Progression As First Verse

Eb Ab F#7
But As I Sit Here Today Many Miles I Am A-way
Bb7 Eb Bb7
>From A Place I Rode My Pony Through The Draw
Eb Ab F#7
While The Oak And Blackjack Trees Kiss The Playful Prairie Breeze
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born

REPEAT CHORUS
INSTRUMENTAL BREAK: Same Chord Progression As Verse 1.

Eb Ab F#7
Now As I Turn Life A Page To The Land Of The Great Old Sage
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born
Eb Ab F#7
While The Black Oil It Rolls And Flows And The Snow White Cotton Grows
Bb7 Eb Bb7
In Those Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born

REPEAT CHORUS (Now)

Looks like he just needed more in that line so the beat would fit with the rest of the music.

 

[Frankie]

In the Hank Thompson song "In the Oklahoma hills, etc", he mentions oaks and blackjacks. We have blackjack oaks, is there a seperate tree/bush/whatever refered to as blackjack in OK?

dun

I think they are actually "Red Oaks"; the wood is red. The limbs grow all the way to the ground and trying to cut one down is a fight. Even to get close enough inside those limbs and spray one is tough.

 

[dun]

Both answers seem right and refer to blackjack oaks. They are in the red oak family and never shed their limbs like most oaks do. We call them widow makers because of the tendency to grab you with a limb if you don;t trim them high enough when you're getting ready to fell them. Blackjack and shingle oak are the only oaks I've seen that will throw sparks when cutting old dried up stuff. When green I call them "dog sh.." oaks because of the smell of the freshly cut wood. Also turkey oaks because they have a real small acorn that the wild turkeys love.
I was just curious and now my curiosity (about his subject) has been satisfied.
Thanks

dun