We know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand!

Almost exactly 70 years ago, the musical "Oklahoma!" opened on Broadway.
Richard Rodgers agreed to adapt a play "Green Grow the Lilacs" into a Broadway musical but his long-time collaborator, the lyricist Lorenz Hart wasn't interested.  His general attitude to anything west of the Hudson River was summed up in his song "Way out West":

"I've roamed o'er the range with the herd
where seldom is heard an intelligent word."


Rodgers had to find a new lyricist and it was Oscar Hammerstein.

( and the rest is history )