As part of the Mississippi River report card process, we held a workshop at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma to discuss the Arkansas and Red River basins. I adapted the Rogers and Hammerstein classic "Oklahoma" to commemorate our workshop. Based on some karaoke singing in the evening of the first day of the workshop, we discovered some (not a lot, but some) singing talent within our group. We prevailed upon these karaoke singers to form a trio known as "J.D. and the River Rats". Without so much as a rehearsal, this brave trio performed "Oklahoma" with great gusto.

The video created by J.D. and the River Rats singing "Oklahoma" was loosely based on the following lyrics:

There's never been a better time for a report card

It ain't too early and it ain't too late!

Starting in the Rockies and running downhill ain't hard

Soon to be integrated at a later date!

Brand new report card - gonna be great!

Gonna measure recreation, navigation and economic wealth Water supply, flood control and ecosystem health

Bass in the rivers where the dragonflies zoom,

Plen'y of air and plen'y of room,

Plen'y of room so we can all cope!

Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope.

OOOOk-lahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain,

And the wavin' waterways can sure smell sweet,

When the wind comes right behind the rain

OOOOk-lahoma, here in Tulsa we sat you and I,

Met on the Mayo roof to watch the river and talk

Makin’videos under the blue sky.

We know we belong to the water (yo-ho)

And the water we belong to is grand!

And when we say

Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!

We're only sayin'

You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!

Oklahoma O.K.!

Okla-okla-Okla-Okla-Okla-Okla

Okla-okla-Okla-Okla-Okla-Okla...

We know we belong to the land

And the land we belong to is grand!

And when we say

Yeeow! Aye-yip-aye-yo-ee-ay!

We're only sayin'

You're doin' fine, Oklahoma!

Oklahoma

O.K. L - A - H - O - M - A

OKLAHOMA!

Yeeow!