Rogers and Hammerstein's first musical was originally entitled Arizona, and featured activity on an Arizona ranch, with
nothing but heat, sun, buzzards, tumbleweeds, cacti, skeletons of cattle, insects, and a collection of unhappy people who
tried daily to find a way to escape from their "Brand New State" in 1912.
The producers rejected the script and the lyrical disaster of the title song. They suggested that both be rewritten,
with the location changed to Oklahoma. A smashing success was the result.
Eller: They couldn't pick a better time to start in life
Andrew: It ain't too early and it ain't too late
Laurey: Startin' as a farmer with a brand new wife
Curley: Soon'll be livin' in a brand new state
Company: Brand new state! Brand new state, gonna treat you great! Gonna give you copper, cotton and some citrus Pasture
fer the cattle, Cactus for the tourists! Flowers on the desert where the insects zoom, Plen'y of air and plen'y of
room, Plen'y of room to please a pope! Plen'y of heat but moisture? Nope!
A-rizona, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain And the rollin' weeds can sure make speeds When the wind
blows, never does it rain. A-rizona, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Eatin' lazy
insects from the sky.
We know we belong to the land But the land we belong to is sand! And when we walk Yeeow! Ayipioeeay! We're
only sayin' You're doin' fine, A-rizona! A-rizona Oy vey.
A-rizona, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain And the rollin' weeds can sure make speeds When the wind
blows, never does it rain. A-rizona, Ev'ry night my honey lamb and I Sit alone and talk and watch a hawk Eatin' lazy
insects from the sky.
We know we belong to the land But the land we belong to is sand! And when we walk Yeeow! Ayipioeeay! We're
only sayin' You're doin' fine, A-rizona! A-rizona Oy vey.
We know we belong to the land But the land we belong to is sand! And when we walk Yeeow! Ayipioeeay! We're
only sayin' You're doin' fine, A-rizona! A-rizona Oy vey It's So Hot (Wet You're Not) A-RIZONA! Yeeow!
