{"id":12683,"date":"2015-10-11T10:55:59","date_gmt":"2015-10-11T15:55:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/?p=12683"},"modified":"2025-11-29T07:43:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T13:43:04","slug":"what-if-ado-annie-were-a-soccer-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flandersfamily.info\/web\/2015\/10\/11\/what-if-ado-annie-were-a-soccer-mom\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma! Musical: Can’t Say No"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Oklahoma!\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the film debut of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved Oklahoma!<\/a><\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

As the daughter of two transplanted Okies, I grew up watching this musical and could sing most of the songs by heart<\/strong>, although the meaning to a couple of the numbers (namely, “All ‘Er Nothing” and “I Can’t Say No”) were completely lost on me as a child.<\/p>\n

As an adult, I’ve sometimes wondered whether Ado Annie might have changed her tune had she been cast as an overscheduled soccer mom<\/strong> living in the 21st century instead of a promiscuous pioneer girl living in the early 1900s.<\/p>\n

My conclusion? Probably not.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Considering the frantic pace so many of us moms keep these days, I think this Oklahoma! character would still have trouble saying no<\/em><\/strong> and would’ve only revised the lyrics a bit.<\/p>\n

My guess is, the new words would go a little like the ones below<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

I\u2019m Just a Mom Who Can\u2019t Say No<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not so much a question of not knowin\u2019 what to do;
\nIt\u2019s just that I\u2019m so busy, I can\u2019t think.
\nI\u2019m barely treadin\u2019 water, and my family\u2019s drownin\u2019, too.
\nBut if I don\u2019t keep paddlin\u2019, I\u2019ll sink.
\nMy schedule\u2019s overloaded to the max,
\nAnd I don\u2019t have a moment to relax.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just a mom who can\u2019t say no,
\nI\u2019m in a terrible fix.
\nI usually say, \u201cAlright, we\u2019ll go,\u201d
\nJust when I oughta say \u201cNix…”
\n[keep reading<\/a>]<\/p>\n