Boley

From the Album It Takes a Lot of People (Tribute to Woody Guthrie)

Back when the Creek came to this land
We were called the Creek Freedman
Set us free no longer slaves
To work the soil on the land they gave

With the whip off our back
The Fort Smith Western laid down tracks
A flower bloomed among the thorns
An all-black town was born

Boley, Boley
Going home to Boley

Freedom in the U.S. mail
Freedom from slavery’s jail

We built homes, stores and banks
Hotel schools and water tanks
At that time cotton was King
The bells of freedom began to ring

Boley, Boley
Going home to Boley

Freedom from the Deep South
Freedom from the cursors mouth

Pretty Boy Floyd he said, “No.”
To his gang, “Do not go.
Into Boley to rob and steal
If you do you’ll just get killed.”

Instead, they shot the banker down
Alarms went off all over town
People came running pulled their guns
Pretty Boy Floyd’s gang was done

Boley, Boley
Going home to Boley

Freedom to educate
Freedom to love not hate

Since the year of ‘59
The rodeo has kept this town alive
Lift them up as we climb
Children aim high

Boley, Boley
Going home to Boley

Freedom in the U.S. mail
Freedom from slavery’s jail
Freedom from the Deep South
Freedom from the cursors mouth
Freedom to educate
Freedom to love not hate

Boley, Boley
Going home to Boley

Words & Music by Larry Long
Copyright Larry Long 1987; renewed 2021 BMI

Lyrics collectively written with students from Boley, Oklahoma

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