Where the Arkansas River leaves Oklahoma It runs free and rambles muddy and wide Where the Arkansas River leaves Oklahoma It's gone forever and never looks back I met her in Stillwell she just turned twenty A spirited beauty like I'd never known And me a dirt farmer who lived by the river But she said she loved me and the free life I know We married in April and lived by the river We worked at land from spring till the fall But I guess when the winter out at our window She couldn't help hearing that wild river call Where the Arkansas River leaves Oklahoma... [ steel ] She tried to conquer that wild rage within her But something too strong ran deep in her soul But I know she loved me she cried like a baby That cold winter evening she answered the call Where the Arkansas River leaves Oklahoma...