The Beach Boys - Okie From Muskogee - 1971 FULL Version

Remastered Audio: amzn.to/31h3gMB
Good Vibrations from Central Park concert. The Beach Boys perform Merle Haggard's song.

[@RonWallach]

Standing ovation to The Beach Boys 😊❤

[@mnicholson66]

Mike Love (the lead singer) actually married a lady from Oklahoma. Tamara Fitch was her maiden name and I knew her well. She was my sister's best friend. The two of them were at our house in in 1971 for Thanksgiving. Mike was one of the kindest men I ever met. He actually sat and listened to me babbling about the OU-Nebraska football game played that day.

[@shaunelijah2232]

Right on Saigon. Thanks for sharin' bro

[@OscarDeltaSierra]

Note that nearly everyone in the crowd knows all the words by heart, despite being stoned-out-of-their-mind Hippies- if there’s a true mark of great songwriting, it’s when the very people you attack and criticize in your song can sing along effortlessly. Well done, Hag.

[@jmccoy96jm]

Merle wrote the song to poke fun at the okie squares. The public took it differently and made it a hit. Merle went with it

[@williamunderwood1755]

@@jmccoy96jm he didn't write the song to make fun of them he wrote the song to show his respect to people who live that life even though he lives differently

[@robertburke2804]

He wrote the song as a tribute to his dad… Per his own words…

[@rickyking1790]

@@jmccoy96jm Learn the meaning behind the song. Poke fun at Okie squares...yeah ok

[@jmccoy96jm]

@rickyking1790 In February of 1970, Merle Haggard told a reporter, “We wrote it to be satirical, originally, but then people latched on to it and it really turned into this song that looked into the mindset of people so opposite of who and where we were.” He’s straight up telling us the song was written as a joke.

[@davepatek6296]

The irony is not lost on those hippies and stoners. One of my favorite videos on KZbin.

[@dans9463]

Pure form of HippiePotcracy.

[@shaunelijah2232]

That is a very, VERY STONED group of young people REALLY enjoying themselves with a Hag tune. May you Rest in Peace, Merle

[@paulmccartney1094]

Mike love hated psychedelics

[@shaunelijah2232]

Then he was pretty darn smart. But being "stoned" can mean a quick toke on a joint and a beer....@@paulmccartney1094

[@shaunelijah2232]

So did I. But I sure dug the Hag...@@paulmccartney1094

[@sharonburns2771]

The dancing is truly hilarious. That is a room full of people who can’t find a beat

[@johndeer4545]

one of the best and ironic combination in music history when The Beach Boys sing a Merle Haggard song, masterpiece

[@cmgordon12345]

They did it with the dead once too. Even weirder

[@williambarry8015]

Yup

[@shaunelijah2232]

I consider this to be one of the Greatest and Most Important "Masterpieces" of the entire '60s and70's era. Because it musically takes an entire generation from the confused and twisted Hippie thing to becoming true American Patriots. THANK YOU Merle...and Thank You Beach Boys..

[@photoslum]

@@shaunelijah2232 "confused and twisted hippie thing"?

[@vitorbarroso1968]

Great Merle Haggard!

[@thatluckyoldsun]

They nailded that song. Absolutely amazing.

[@Paul-dz7xi]

Their harmonizing is magical 🧙‍♂️

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! They're awesome. 👍

[@infoline100]

The good times are long gone.

[@wito6998]

A great, fun sing-a-long! The views of the crowd are priceless. The best music videos show the audience participation.

[@josebelindo1641]

+Wi To I don't like to see the audience only the musicians

[@wito6998]

I think some views of audience help viewers know it was not just a studio or TV performance & puts time in perspective.

[@josebelindo1641]

you can tell its live without looking

[@wito6998]

Even with music turned down, there are good views of people, enhances "live" feel? Now with periscope, you may be on camera across world in real time!

[@michaelpower4372]

I only came across it yesterday. played it about 20 times great video.

[@rustykilt]

We are all old now, but watching this takes me back as a teenager, when MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR was the catch cry of our generation.

[@jayare2620]

Footnote: this was the largest gathering of rhythmically challenged individuals in History!

[@feathermerchant2102]

LMAO!!!

[@LeannWebb61]

AMEN to that!

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

JayAre 😂👍

[@MartinLopez-ys5dm]

First thing I noticed too! I thought that funky beard was fake and while he mocked Merle. Haggart doesn't compute on micra-d o t. I can't even pretend to be out of rhythm...That's hard to do man! But the brotha' at 01:00? He was even early, John Lennon at 01:44 was out, Bill Gates was in his garage. How's that sanctuary workin' out far ya'? ;) #Kateslaw DO SOMETHIN' MAN!

[@tkacer1]

Absolutely! Spot on

[@OlleSvensson-xo2qk]

Love the piano in the background

[@fredgien]

I thought the same!

[@derekbeauchamp2409]

I just love this by the beachboys , they just fit in anywhere

[@jerryz2541]

Ironically, I think this is the best version of this song I've heard. Great harmony by the Boys singing a country song by Haggard to a bunch of New Yorkers. A good song enjoyed by folks in many walks of life...

[@GREG62944]

Solid country rock. I dig it. This is right music.

[@bachacarp]

One of my favorite songs and what a great atmosphere, where has the time gone, fantastic.😉

[@mattconnolly1729]

One of the best covers of one of the best songs of all time

[@jasperjones8401]

By one of the best bands!

[@petestaint8312]

@@jasperjones8401 agreed! 👍

[@annakutschewa4567]

Best Version - Amazing ! Amerika bleibt unsere Hoffnung auf eine freie Welt mit freien Menschen mit Gottes Hilfe...

[@ericstarvogault2484]

I was there and forgot until seeing this. A good time was had by all. 51 years ago.

[@jiveturkey9993]

👍👍

[@hotdog1960]

I saw them only once, World Tour, it was either in ‘83 or ‘84. Such a great band. I didn’t know they even sang Country Music Songs. I really think they did a great job. Also check out The Rolling Stones singing a Country Music Song, from Waylon Jennings, titled, ‘Bob Wills Is Still The King’…

[@thinkofme14344]

wow beach boys did a great job ..love it..

[@JohnHMarsden]

I just love the waay these young people are dancing and enjoying this song.

[@dr.migilitoloveless2385]

This video holds up well after 53 years.👍👍

[@1401minstrel]

The irony of this is matched by Carl's 1970s fondness for the Nudie Suits made by Nudie Cohn of Beverly Hills, also fancied by most of the male country music stars of the day. He's wearing a fine example of one in this video. Carl also used to occasionally refer to himself as "Clem Howdy" Wilson. He above all must have loved the ironic humor of the BB performing this song.

[@jayare2620]

everybody's having a good time--the ultimate test of good music.

[@Christian60]

man, this was the good old days

[@Tunafish262]

When The Beach Boys sing Merle's songs u know it'll be good

[@bigal4919]

best version of this song that I have ever heard

[@lrn_news9171]

Haggards live version in Muskogee Oklahoma 1969 is so good

[@karenwesley332]

Wouldn't it be grand if we could go back to those good old days. This video brings back many memories!!!

[@jerrysmith2354]

Thr irony of this being posted under a song that is making fun of sticking to the "good ol days"

[@shaunelijah2232]

I'm a Yank. But, can you imagine Stompin' Tom Connors doing a show with the Beach Boys !!!.. 🤠EeYaHooooo

[@bluegtturbo]

Whether you agree or not with the sentiments, you have to agree its a fantastic song

[@petestaint8312]

Yes! 👍

[@jamesbollhoefer6447]

It is a fantastic tune. :)

[@rickyking1790]

Written by a legend!

[@GaughanGirl77]

I don't think you understand history or the sentiment of the song.

[@rickyking1790]

@@GaughanGirl77 you don't make sense. all i said it was written by the legend merle haggard. yeah i know what the song is about.

[@rogeredmunds5806]

For all the flack Mike Love gets from some Beach Boys fans, he does a very passable vocal here and works the crowd well. It is a simple 2 chord song, with a key change before the "Beads and Roman sandals" line. Easy to sing but you still need to deliver. Respect to Merle Haggard and The Beach Boys. They should have kept it in the set for ever.

[@jimboschley]

watching The Beach Boys get the crowd going feels so good. I a mdead fan. and the that the band could do something with a band or a person and then that person would go out and do things like this. You caN hear the dead in the energy that gettin the people dancing even though none of them are there. That's the extra energy that use to blow up the speakers - owsly interview reference.... that's the the magic, that's the Grateful Dead.

[@JAB-bc9uv]

This was historically outstanding.

[@mrmanofsteele]

The Beach Boys stepped up the tempo, added harmonies and made it there own.

[@milqyway]

@V agreee!! sloop john b, cottonfields, hushabye, come go with me, bluebirds over the mountain, they were true masters in the game of covers.

[@Paul-dz7xi]

The audience is fascinating to look at 👍 and the famous BB harmonies are mesmerizing 🤩

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! A lot hair. 😄 vocals are killer. 👍

[@superpotiron]

No cell phones, the good old days.

[@allenheaps2084]

such a great sing a long song and who else better to sing along with than the Beach Boys? Totally awesome!

[@maynardmoleman]

This is friggin awesome!

[@bachacarp]

What a wonderful atmosphere at that time, and a beautiful performance of this song.

[@alecsandymayo]

Merle, king of the satirical sly joke (Jeremiah was a bullfrog?), made a bundle from this, while smoking up with Willie. All of us freaks at the time loved this tune and here's the proof, dancing and singing our heads off. #loveyamerle

[@stu2611]

This is what concerts should be like: the crowd just loving it instead of a sea of camera phones and everyone desperate to post some crappy footage or obsessing over the Instagram post.

[@LegoStarWarsZation]

If they had phones back then I’m pretty sure they would have used them as well.

[@jimieljoseph2322]

True, but they didn't and they had way, way more fun. Cameras were available then but were rather heavy or too large and basically got in the way of good time. These were better times I shit you not.

[@alr2131]

Like they wouldn’t be doing that if they had the technology…come on dude grow old with some grace 😎

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

The Beach Boys covered this?1 Now I HAVE heard everything!

[@garyfaught3769]

If only I could now here Merle do "Surfin' USA", I think I could then say I've seen it all!

[@petestaint8312]

😄😄😄

[@jiveturkey9993]

Willie would do it

[@alanoneill3065]

Wouldn't it be nice?

[@garyfaught3769]

@@alanoneill3065 God Only Knows🙂

[@chadgilmore5046]

The way they dressed then looked really cool😎

[@crieverytim]

I came for the harmonies, not disappointed!!

[@Johnny1Reggae]

Mike is indeed excellent here. He looks cool too.

[@pinetree1616]

Not his voice, surely. He sounds like shit.

[@bassball67]

Mike has never looked cool

[@26rickg]

@@bassball67 Yeah, he does here......so much for your bullshite........

[@davepatek6296]

A very rare occasion where Mike was in his element.

[@jeremycline9542]

makes me wish they recorded a whole album of stuff like this

[@shaunelijah2232]

Sure do !!.....

[@petestaint8312]

That would be killer! 👍

[@Gildedowlmedia338]

You might like their holland album and Carla and the passions so tough from the early 70s

[@stevew9670]

I was 16 at the time, I was not there and it was not in my town but I swear I know half the people there, I mean these were my friends !!

[@superpotiron]

Mike is very good here !

[@petestaint8312]

Agreed! He's awesome. 👍

[@petestaint8312]

Best version ever! They nailed it. 👍

[@jerrysmith2354]

Personally I like Phil Ochs's version the best, but this is good

[@rickyking1790]

The original by Haggard is the best

[@antonprenneis3231]

8 people are ACTUAL Okies from Muskogee.

[@Clandsom]

Oh fuck you

[@UCqkdtMiE5ZquD_lF9prae4Q]

😍😍😍 🎸🎸🎸🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@kathywheeler3844]

Love their version of this song

[@stewartmcclymont343]

this is the best version .

[@christianbrother4724]

I was a little kid that year. All over the place were people like in this crowd. After decades of booze and drugs, today the sight isnt a pretty one. I will always love the Beach Boys. I do wish things would have been better for Dennis and Brian. I have seen what addiction does even in my own family. In Heaven the Beach Boy songs will play always.

[@1401minstrel]

And for Carl Wilson too. He fought his own battle with drug addiction, was a heavy drinker and died at age 51 of lung and brain cancer from smoking since the age of 13.

[@ddebenedictis]

The Beach Boys saga tells us that massive success provides no immunity from unhappiness. Seems like we see this more often with celebrities than regular folks.

[@Bill-xc8le]

wow, those boys can sing!!!

[@bubbagump6934]

These cute kids are now 70 years old!

[@Maridun50]

IF they are alive ........

[@crieverytim]

😞

[@briahnalynne6825]

@V don't forget Bruce

[@1401minstrel]

I think Bubba Gump was referring to the audience. Mike Love is now 81, and Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine are now 79.

[@chadgilmore5046]

Or broke because of high gas prices 🤣

[@amarelbarrow2500]

This is my favourite thing ever. Irony at its finest :)

[@donschwartz9585]

I was at the concert with my frat brothers and girlfriends. They all got into this video except me. Was a great concert.

[@jiveturkey9993]

Cool👍👍

[@Paul-dz7xi]

Horrible dancing. Jesus I’m so embarrassed for these people, trying so hard to keep the beat.

[@donschwartz9585]

@@Paul-dz7xiDon't be embarrassed other than you saying that. Don't know how old you are but I would guess you're not that old. Remember the time of the concert. They weren't there to dance they were just getting into the music. It wasn't American Bandstand.

[@Paul-dz7xi]

@@donschwartz9585 I’m old! 😆

[@ddebenedictis]

@@Paul-dz7xi probably the crowd scenes are not synced with the music.

[@THECLARENCES]

Long live the memories of Dennis & Carl Wilson. xoxo The Clarences

[@plumeria66]

There could never be concerts like this today. Today there would be security clearance, cops, bouncers, CCTV cameras, and a shooting.

[@Wolfsky9]

Ahhhhhhh yes, '71 The Free Concert .----------------------I watched this, loving every minute. ------------------I was 24 y/o, heading to '25.

[@asr53]

TV special from 71. A great live CD would be this live set, add the Good Vibrations from London TV special the following year and thrown in the 1971 jam with the Grateful Dead at the Fillmore. Early 70's was the best BB's era after the early-mid 60's set.

[@halbie71]

I agree. I saw the Beach Boys several times in concert during the early 1970's!!!

[@Noah1997callahan]

DAMN the beach boys were hella cool

[@carolfoster6787]

beachboys should have brought that song out on cd.

[@rmk1960]

It is actually on their 1973 concert LP.

[@larrywt656]

@@rmk1960 No it's not. They have never commercially released any version of this song.

[@rmk1960]

@@larrywt656 I have the album.

[@larrywt656]

@@rmk1960 So do I. If you think that Okie From Muskogee is on that album, you obviously have a bootleg. This is the link to the Discogs page on The Beach Boys In Concert. www.discogs.com/master/view/78288 You will see that none of the commercially released nor promotional releases contain Okie From Muskogee.

[@jerryz2541]

What a great version of Merle's tune! If that doesn't get your toe tappin', you've got serious problems.

[@shithappens6772]

I feel it's dry compared to Merle's, but yes; this still gets my feet tapping x

[@jamesgorski7551]

I like the song, but I've always had serious problems.

[@madandy3176]

Like your feet amputated?

[@bigcountry4539]

The Beach Boys went to $h^t along with nearly every other band/musician in the late 1960s and into the 70s with their long NASTY hair and attire...

[@ddebenedictis]

@@bigcountry4539 yes, this! It's truly amazing how much hair and clothes effects one's music. /s

[@jaredmacbride3121]

Merle, who recorded a song called It's All Going to Pot with Willie Nelson, would have loved this.

[@1401minstrel]

I'm sure he did!

[@jdd3786]

Wow just stumbled across this tonight. Special treat to see one of your favorite bands cover a song by one of your favorite bands. And it's live! So cool.

[@methesponge]

i love this song, im surprised the audience was so into it back then. a lot of the young people back then hated Merle . this song got a lot of criticism so im surprised they werent booing etc.

[@MMajestic23]

its a satire, ofc they hated the song, thats the joke

[@gogleaccount2763]

I still don’t understand how they could hate the hag

[@shaunelijah2232]

@@gogleaccount2763 See my comment a few about this bro

[@shaunelijah2232]

@@MMajestic23 No, that is the amazing part. 99% were enjoying the patriotic words. May God be blessing you Merle.

[@MMajestic23]

@@shaunelijah2232 Merle himself said he was a closed minded when he wrote this, and he hated the anti war protests. The Beach Boys were clearly anti-war.

[@rosemicallef1319]

Just love it

[@AydenWebb]

Nice cover!

[@BigfootBBQ.]

Love this

[@hassethor]

A good old version, very nice!

[@shaneholmes111]

RIP MERLE!!! THEY'RE WORTHY. IM THE FIRST TO SAY RIP MERLE ON THIS COMMENT THREAD! WOOO GO MERLE ROCK OUT WITH THE ANGELS

[@asr53]

Too bad this isn't out on CD with Good Vibrations from London (with Blondie doing Wild Honey). This was the best live era of the band (early 70's). Saw them many times during the 70's but they only did 22-25 songs, now they do 35.

[@petestaint8312]

Awesome idea! That would be a killer CD. 👍

[@richardosullivan8102]

I'm think you can get it as an MP3 download not sure of the quality

[@cliftonbanks5590]

Great song!

[@jondickinson5623]

This is nothing but fucking cool, Sail on Sailors.

[@rhondaeverett8284]

It IS. Ive never seen it before. 👍

[@simoncolwell8692]

Carry Me Home should be in the top 5.

[@deeklithgow1765]

From the American band documentary you could see Dennis miming/singing in the background. (Only for a few seconds) but he's not present here in this clip. This was without doubt the Beach Boys coolest performance. Even Mike looks cool. The joy of the crowd. I wonder if they knew they were watching history

[@arhuxtable]

RIP Merle Ronald Haggard April 6,1937-April 6,2016

[@johnrodriguez6185]

A good rendition

[@GeorgeVreelandHill]

I have seen the changes in the world. Send me back to Muskogee. Better to be a square than anything today.

[@MaghoxFr]

fucking A

[@stijnvantongeren8430]

MaghoxFr

[@MaghoxFr]

Stijn van Tongeren ?

[@mundrubjet]

I'm with you...I'm US Army retired...and I'm armed...Hoooaaahhh...

[@MaghoxFr]

***** Because you walk around on Beverly Hills.

[@weissfilms5450]

This is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Seeing this group of hippies getting DOWN ironically to this anti-hippie anthem is legitimately therapy to me right now.

[@ryanwalthuis1928]

it actually was not an anti-hippy anthem. merle haggard wrote it as a joke because he liked to smoke and got into trouble as a youth..

[@crieverytim]

Check Cocaine and Rhinestones podcast on this song, I think it's ep 5. It's satire

[@bsouth7042]

@@ryanwalthuis1928 not true. Haggard said "Okie" was a tribute to people like Haggard's father, who hailed from the Oklahoma town of Checotah, about 20 miles south of Muskogee. "My father came from the area, worked hard on his farm, was proud of it and got called white trash once he took to the road as an Okie," he said. "Listen to that line: 'I'm proud to be an Okie from Muskogee." Nobody had ever said that before in a song." Haggard explained to Tom Roland that "the main message in Muskogee was pride, and the patriotism was evident." He was not being satirical about his respect for his own dad and he wrote other songs just like this

[@holmes5517]

@@ryanwalthuis1928 , yes, that's what I thought

[@6egotronix]

Merle is the best! :) ...look at all these hippies!

[@HuwDouglasEvans]

That worked surprisingly well.

[@derekbeauchamp2409]

Love this !

[@ladipiskac5662]

It was exactly this style that suited Al Jardin. And, even though the Beach Boys eventually went in a different direction, Al still managed to "squeeze" a few songs that together became huge hits. For example, Sloop John B. and if I'm not mistaken, the modification of California dreamin was his idea and credit.

[@Aaron-et2tx]

The irony is too much to bear... Dead

[@rubberduky1829]

Nothing funnier than HIPPIES singing an anti hippie song......Ohhhhh where has the humanity gone..... LOL

[@firsttennessee]

my thoughts exactly! haha

[@philiphoward1731]

Did merle haggard take a Take pills and other drugs and the Beach boys We’re supposed to be the all American band in yet they took drugs which was OK by me because I love the beach boys and they just legalize marijuana in Michigan last week but the beach boys was one the best bands that ever came about

[@sartainja]

rubber duky That what is so damn fun about the whole thing. Like a dog chasing his tail but finally catches it ~ the circle is complete.

[@ssfc117]

Bruh Merle haggard wrote this song as a parody of Muskogee because he grew up like 20 minutes from it. He was a stoner and served time in San Quentin, def not anti-hippie

[@derekbeauchamp2409]

Just love this video!!

[@jurgenkupfer5931]

😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Forever Beach Boys

[@Irpsnerple]

Those were the best years ever...... 2020 will go down in Infamy .. ugh

[@antoniosalas3507]

Mike love! Excellent

[@glosfishgb6267]

rightwing hippie song luv it

[@RoccoGucci]

Merle was born in CA. His father was an Okie. He said when he wrote the song, it was through the lens of his father's eyes. He later said the following... "I had different views in the '70s. As a human being, I've learned [more]. I have more culture now. I was dumb as a rock when I wrote 'Okie From Muskogee.' That's being honest with you at the moment, and a lot of things that I said [then] I sing with a different intention now. My views on marijuana have totally changed. I think we were brainwashed and I think anybody that doesn't know that needs to get up and read and look around, get their own information. It's a cooperative government project to make us think marijuana should be outlawed."

[@marguskiis7711]

Brilliant

[@davidmerpz]

Not even Ween could cram this much irony into a song!

[@ellietincan6756]

This song legit is like proto-Ween

[@wewin03]

Just proof a good song is a good song

[@aquatarkus2022]

People knew how to have a good time in those days. All over now.

[@michaelpower4372]

When America "was" the land of "dreams".

[@azoth6337]

This song doesn't actually criticize hippies. It says the Okies don't wear or do things which the hippies do.Fantastic rendition.

[@Bswinmo1]

Thank u for sharing!!!

[@alanoneill3065]

I'm not sure that ALL of the audience got the irony in this....