'My Home's in Oklahoma' by Jake Worthington - Lyrics & Meaning

Big Loud Texas country traditionalist Jake Worthington continues to tease his forthcoming sophomore album When I Write The Song, due out in July, with the western swing toe-tapper, 'My Home's in Oklahoma.'

The follow up to 'Not Like I Used To' and 'It Ain't the Whiskey.' Despite being written by La Porte, Texas, native Jake Worthington - alongside Will Banister and Roger Springer - the song is a confusingly titled tribute to being at home in the Sooner State, revealed through the lyrics to be a paean to the power of love to change anything, even when you're Lone Star State born and raised.

“I believe in country music as much as I believe in my next breath,” Worthington has famously declared, pledging allegiance to more traditional country production and sounds. “Blame it on my raising, but I think there ought to be room for country in country music.”

Produced by Jon Randall and Chuck Ainlay, it's a lively slice of Western swing, the song features a fiddle, pedal steel and some telecaster licks in one of Jake Worthington's most straight forwardly traditionally Texas indebted country releases yet. It sounds like a cross between Lefty Frizzell and Mark Chestnutt.

Lord knows I love that Lone Star State

That’s where I was born and raised

Jake Worthington reminds listeners that he was born and grew up in Texas, otherwise nicknamed the "Lone Star State," due to its history as an independent republic after declaring independence from Mexico in 1836. The single star on the flag of the Republic of Texas symbolizes this independent nationhood and is the origin of the nickname

Really thought that I had it made

Worthington expresses how he felt fulfilled by his home state of Texas and satisfied with his quality of life. To "have got it made" is a phrase used describe a situation where someone feels certain to be successful and have a good life, often without much effort.

Worthington has been known as a popular singer and songwriter in Texas, so it is easy to see why his success would lead hi to believe he "had it made."

Love proved anything can change

A romantic relationship begins that shows Worthington that love is capable of changing the way you see a situation.

So I put Texas in my review mirror

‘Cause she lived ‘cross some old red river

Out on the plains where the buffalo grazed

And that’s where I’m gonna stay

The Texas native leaves his home state behind to go across an "old red river."

The Red River he is referring to forms the border between the US states of Texas and Oklahoma. It flows eastward, with the south bank defining the boundary between the two states. The river also forms a short section of the border between Texas and Arkansas before entering Arkansas.

The Red River originates in the Texas panhandle, with its two forks flowing east.For about half its length, it serves as the border between Texas and Oklahoma.The river then continues its journey eastward, forming a border with Arkansas before eventually flowing into Louisiana and joining the Mississippi River.

Buffalo - American Bison - graze in several locations in Oklahoma, with the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska being a prominent example, so this must be what Worthington is referring to here.

Now my home’s in Oklahoma

Leave I’m never gonna

She’s all I've ever wanted

And my homes in Oklahoma

(Hey!)

Worthington relocates to Oklahoma because of a romantic relationship and now considers it to be home to him. “Home is where the heart is” ihas become a popular expression meaning that home goes beyond the physical location. It refers to where one's affections, love, and deepest feelings reside. It can be a place where you feel most comfortable or at peace. For Jake Worthington, this place is now Oklahoma and he does not intend to leave.

The stars look big and bright at night

Twice as big in her big green eyes

Oklahoma has some of the darkest skies in the eastern US, particularly in the Choctaw Nation and the panhandle. The Bortle scale is used to measure sky darkness, with lower numbers indicating darker skies and Oklahoma has areas with Bortle scores of 1 and 2, meaning very dark conditions

Because of that, stars can be very bright in Oklahoma, particularly in areas with minimal light pollution. Lots of Oklahoma state parks are well known for stargazing because of their dark skies.

Jake Worthington describes how the stars reflected in his lover's eyes look even larger than they actually are.

Picture perfect paradise

Sure ain’t hard to recognize

Oh Heaven’s what I finally found

An angel’s what I’m holding now

Wrapped up in these arms of mine

For the rest of my life

Worthington describes the celestial quality of his new life in Oklahoma, describing it as a "heaven" and his lover as an "angel" who he is holding, and intends for this relationship to last for the rest of his life.

"This one's about moving across the river for your lady," Jake Worthington teased on his socials along with a clip of the song. "Texas and Oklahoma, like Momma and Daddy to me!"

"I wrote this song with Will Banister and Roger Springer right after me and Sophie got married. I’m really excited that we put a swing song on this record. It’s the stuff I grew up listening to, and it’s what I’m living now. Here comes your country and western music!"

Lord knows I love that Lone Star State

That’s where I was born and raised

Really thought that I had it made

Love proved anything can change

So I put Texas in my review mirror

‘Cause she lived ‘cross some old red river

Out on the plains where the buffalo grazed

And that’s where I’m gonna stay

Now my home’s in Oklahoma

Leave I’m never gonna

She’s all I've ever wanted

And my homes in Oklahoma

(Hey!)

The stars look big and bright at night

Twice as big in her big green eyes

Picture perfect paradise

Sure ain’t hard to recognize

Oh Heaven’s what I finally found

An angel’s what I’m holding now

Wrapped up in these arms of mine

For the rest of my life

Said my home’s in Oklahoma

Leave I’m never gonna

She’s all I've ever wanted

And my home’s in Oklahoma

(Get down)

(Yeah)

(Come on)

Yes my home’s in Oklahoma

To leave I’m never gonna

She’s all I've ever wanted

And my home’s in Oklahoma

Yes she’s all I’ve ever wanted

And my home’s in Oklahoma

Straight out the pasture

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For more on Jake Worthington, see below: