Kelley and Higley –Home on the Range

“Home on the Range“ is the state song of Kansas. Dr. Brewster M. Higley originally wrote the words in a poem called “My Western Home.“ He wrote it in the early 1870s in Smith County, Kansas. The poem was first published in a December 1873 issue of the Smith County Pioneer under the title “Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam.“ The music was written by a friend of Higley’s named Daniel E. Kelley. Higley’s original words are similar to those of the song today but not identical. The song was picked up by settlers, cowboys, and others and spread across the nation in various forms. In the early 20th century, it was arranged by Texas composer David Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer. It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947, and is commonly regarded as the unofficial anthem of the American West.