“Okie from Muskogee”: The Song That Began as a Joke, Became a National Anthem Merle Haggard once shared that Okie from Muskogee was originally just a joke born in the tour bus lounge. He glanced out the window, saw a sign for Muskogee, Oklahoma, and playfully remarked, “This must be the place where people don’t smoke pot and don’t protest the government.” That offhand comment soon blossomed into a melody, and within months, it evolved into an iconic anthem that resonated across the country.
Introduction Merle Haggard’s “Okie From Muskogee” – A Country Music Icon That Speaks of Pride...