Zach Bryan, whose full name is Zachary Lane Bryan, is a talented American country music singer-songwriter. He’s from Oologah, Oklahoma, and was born on April 2, 1996. One of his famous songs is called “Oklahoma City,” and it’s a heartfelt tribute to his hometown. In this song, he reflects on life, how things change, and how time passes.
In “Oklahoma City,” Zach Bryan’s lyrics make you think about nostalgia, the strong bonds of friendship, and the complicated feelings that come with leaving your hometown.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the song’s lyrics. We’ll break down each part to understand what it really means.
Table of Contents
“Oklahoma City” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
“Old friend it’s been awhile
I ain’t spoke to you in years
And often times boys from this town
Put wheels down and disappear
Ms. Cole asked about you just three days back
And I had no answer to give her
I told her that you moved way out west
To write some songs and grow a little more bitter
The kids talk about you around here
Like you’re some kind of legend
I wonder if they know a thousand sunrises ago
You were eager just like them?”
The song kicks off with a warm reunion vibe, as someone greets the singer like a long-lost friend. The line “Old friend, it’s been awhile” sets the stage for a conversation between two people who once shared a close bond but drifted apart over time.
When the lyrics mention “put wheels down,” it’s like the singer, akin to the “boys from this town,” briefly touches down in the hometown before taking off again. This departure tugs at the heartstrings, reflecting the bittersweet reality of small-town guys leaving for big city dreams.
The narrative then shifts to Ms. Cole, introducing a layer of authenticity. In a small town, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and even after years, a girl both of them know—in this case, Ms. Cole—still pops up in their conversations.
It’s possible that Ms. Cole is romantically linked to the singer; hence, her continued concern about his whereabouts. However, the singer’s friend only mentioned that he “moved way out west” because he needed to “grow a little more bitter” in order to “write some songs.”
The conversation’s sarcasm implies that life’s frustrations fuel his songwriting journey. It’s like he’s saying, “Well, sometimes bitterness sparks those heartfelt tunes.”
The final lines of the verse introduce a sense of generational change. The singer’s friend mentions how the “kids talk about you around here,” casting the singer as some kind of legend or mythical figure in the eyes of the younger crowd.
It’s a poignant moment when the singer sees himself reflected in the eyes of these kids. He croons about how he was once just like them, a wide-eyed kid in this small town. This suggests a yearning for the simplicity of his own childhood, leaving a tinge of sadness about how time slips away and transforms people as they journey through life.
Chorus
“But if you ever decide to bring your pain and your pride
Back to this side of Oklahoma City
There’ll be a porch light on from the post you leaned on
‘Fore you wound up on the wrong side of pity
And often times I pray for you and often times I don’t
Is it the goodbyes that haunt you or the fear of new hellos?
Won’t stay for long ’cause you won’t stop your runnin’
Wait for tomorrow until tomorrow’s not comin'”
In the chorus, Zach Bryan talks about “Oklahoma City,” where he currently resides. It’s the capital and largest city in Oklahoma, often known as OKC. Despite living there now, Zach Bryan is originally from Oologah, a town in Rogers County, Oklahoma. In his song, the small town he mentions is likely “Oologah.”
This town holds a special significance for Zach Bryan. In the song, his “old friend” suggests that if the singer decides to bring his “pain and pride” back to the “this side of Oklahoma City,” there will always be “a porch light on from the post you leaned on.” In this context, “this side of Oklahoma City” refers to the small town. In many movies, “a porch light” is a common feature in old small towns and serves as a metaphor for warmth. The lines convey that, after experiencing pride and pain in the big city, the singer can always return to his hometown for comfort.
The seemingly contradictory lines “And often times I pray for you and often times I don’t” suggest that the singer’s friend prays for him out of concern for potential suffering in Oklahoma City. However, he refrains from doing so at times, as the singer might be successful in the city, leading him to look down on the singer if he prays for him.
The lines “Is it the goodbyes that haunt you or the fear of new hellos?” express the singer’s ongoing struggle with leaving old friends in the small town. The concept of “new hellos” is haunting as well because the singer has been away from his hometown for so long that even familiar faces now seem unfamiliar. Many things that were once familiar to him have become new.
Despite his deep connection to his hometown, Zach Bryan couldn’t “stay for long” as he is compelled to pursue his dreams in the bustling city. Nevertheless, he wishes “tomorrow” won’t arrive too quickly—a reference to the date of his departure.
Verse 2
“Heard you landed in Tulsa while he slipped away
Is that the reason you’re fleein’ the fields we hauled hay?
The heat this July or the dark last December
Look in my eyes and you might remember
The weed out in Norman or the Stillwater strip
Run far enough boy and you’re bound to trip”
In the second verse of the song, the singer’s old friend mentions hearing about the singer’s arrival in Tulsa and how, around the same time, someone else in their small town “slipped away.” The old friend wonders if that’s “the reason” the singer left the hayfield they used to work on together. The exact “reason” remains uncertain, but it suggests that perhaps the person who quietly left the small town did so for similar reasons as the singer—possibly in search of better opportunities in a big city.
The old friend then fondly recalls shared moments with the singer during summer and late December. Mentioning places like Norman, a suburb of Oklahoma City, and Stillwater, the county seat of Payne County, the old friend brings up beautiful locations in Oklahoma to evoke memories of happier times.
In the line “Run far enough boy and you’re bound to trip,” the old friend cautions the singer that continuously chasing opportunities in big cities might lead to stumbling and failure in new places. It’s a reminder that running too far away may have its risks and challenges.
Overall Message
In Zach Bryan’s song “Oklahoma City,” he reflects on returning to his hometown and reconnecting with an old friend. Their conversation stirs up mixed emotions, touching on nostalgia for the past and uncertainty about leaving one’s roots.
The song’s core message is about valuing hometown friendships and memories while cautioning against placing too much expectation on big city dreams.
Put simply, “Oklahoma City” resonates with many who’ve left their hometowns. It captures the essence of small-town life and the strong bonds formed there, emphasizing the significance of home, friendship, and the desire to reunite with loved ones.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.