“If You’re Ever in Oklahoma” was written by J.J. Cale, the Oklahoma-born guitarist and songwriter known for his loose, understated style. He recorded it for his 1972 album “Really.”
The song is a wry, half-joking warning. Addressed to anyone passing through Oklahoma, it advises the visitor to watch his step, move carefully, and stay clear of trouble with the law — an insider’s tongue-in-cheek caution about his home state.
Cale’s spare songwriting has appealed to performers across many styles.
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