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Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’

[music Richard Rodgers, lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II]

Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ is the opening song from the 1943 musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. It was sung by Curly McLain at the beginning of the first scene and was the first a cappella opening to a musical.

Jon Boden sang Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ as the 15 May 2011 entry of his project A Folk Song a Day. He noted in his blog:

I remember my Gran (who died recently) singing me this as a child. If it had only been traditional I could get lots of folk points for that! I often sing this at festival soundchecks when the audience are watching (an awkward arrangement!)—the audience normally finish the chorus off.

Lyrics

Jon Boden sings Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’

There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,
An’ it looks like its climbin’ clear up to the sky.

Chorus (after each verse):
Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
Everything’s going my way.

All the cattle are standing like statues,
All the cattle are standing like statues,
They don’t turn their heads as they see me ride by.
But a little brown mav’rick is winking her eye.

All the sounds of the earth are like music,
All the sounds of the earth are like music,
The breeze is so busy it don’t miss a tree,
And an ol’ Weepin’ Willer is laughin’ at me.