"The Farmer and the Cowman" is a song composed by

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

and with lyrics by

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

for their 1943 musical ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...

''. It is sung primarily by Andrew Carnes, Aunt Eller, and Ike Skidmore. In various versions of ''Oklahoma!'', the singing parts for Ike, Andrew, and Aunt Eller have been swapped. Lines for Will Parker, Ado Annie, and Curly McLain are also included. Repetition of the refrain is sung by the entire company. This song is included in the first scene of the second act of ''Oklahoma!''. It is accompanied by an elaborate dancing sequence. This number, and the scene itself, takes place at the Skidmore Ranch, where the

box social Box social is a term for a social event that was widely used in the early 1900s with varying definitions in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. American usage In the U.S. state of Vermont the tradition is that women decorate a card ...

follows after the song. In contrast to the rest of the musical, "The Farmer and the Cowman" does not further the plot but does allow the audience to witness the tension between the farmers and the cowmen, a tension that comes from the farmers' desire to protect their crops with fences while the cowmen prefer the freedom to move cattle over a wide open range. Carnes, Aunt Eller and Ike act as peacemakers and attempt to reconcile the two sides. The song appears to have no effect, and the two sides start fighting. Aunt Eller then shoots a gun in the air to stop the fighting, and conducts both groups – preaching peace with the lyrics of the song, but threatening violence. At the end of the song, however, there is a resolution. Both sides agree to act hospitably toward each other after receiving a bit of advice from Aunt Eller: :"I don't say I'm no better than anybody else, :But I'll be danged if I ain't just as good!" The song resolves a minor subplot, although the conflict between Jud and Curly (a farmer and a cowman) has yet to be resolved at that point.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farmer And The Cowman, The Songs from Oklahoma! Songs with music by Richard Rodgers Songs with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II 1943 songs