Davy Crockett was King of the Wild Frontier. When the town's folk heard "Davy" was headed their way...well just the name "Davy" struck fear in the hearts of the campfire beans generation.
Full lyrics (20 stanzas) of The Ballad of Davy Crockett plus Fess Parker singing the shorter version. (Personally, I've never heard the long version sung.)
Holy MOSES. Who KNEW? I'm sorry I'm not editing this into verses.
This is how history should be told. More people would remember more of it.
Lyrics
Born on a mountain top in Tennessee Greenest state in the land of the free Raised in the woods so he knew ev'ry tree Kilt him a be 'are when he was only three Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
In eighteen thirteen the Creeks uprose Addin' redskin arrows to the country's woes Now, Injun fightin' is somethin' he knows So he shoulders his rifle an' off he goes Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear
Off through the woods he's a marchin' along Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song Itchin' fer fightin' an' rightin' a wrong He's ringy as a be 'are an' twict as strong Davy, Davy Crockett, the buckskin buccaneer
Andy Jackson is our gen'ral's name His reg'lar soldiers we'll put to shame Them redskin varmints us Volunteers'll tame 'Cause we got the guns with the sure-fire aim Davy, Davy Crockett, the champion of us all
Headed back to war from the ol' home place But Red Stick was leadin' a merry chase Fightin' an' burnin' at a devil's pace South to the swamps on the Florida Trace Davy, Davy Crockett, trackin' the redskins down
Fought single-handed through the Injun War Till the Creeks was whipped an' peace was in store An' while he was handlin' this risky chore Made hisself a legend for evermore Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
He give his word an' he give his hand That his Injun friends could keep their land An' the rest of his life he took the stand That justice was due every redskin band Davy, Davy Crockett, holdin' his promise dear
Home fer the winter with his family Happy as squirrels in the ol' gum tree Bein' the father he wanted to be Close to his boys as the pod an' the pea Davy, Davy Crockett, holdin' his young'uns dear
But the ice went out an' the warm winds came An' the meltin' snow showed tracks of game An' the flowers of Spring filled the woods with flame An' all of a sudden life got too tame Davy, Davy Crockett, headin' on West again
Off through the woods we're ridin' along Makin' up yarns an' singin' a song He's ringy as a be 'are an' twict as strong An' knows he's right 'cause he ain' often wrong Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear
Lookin' fer a place where the air smells clean Where the trees is tall an' the grass is green Where the fish is fat in an untouched stream An' the teemin' woods is a hunter's dream Davy, Davy Crockett, lookin' fer Paradise
Now he's lost his love an' his grief was gall In his heart he wanted to leave it all An' lose himself in the forests tall But he answered instead his country's call Davy, Davy Crockett, beginnin' his campaign
Needin' his help they didn't vote blind They put in Davy 'cause he was their kind Sent up to Nashville the best they could find A fightin' spirit an' a thinkin' mind Davy, Davy Crockett, choice of the whole frontier
The votes were counted an' he won hands down So they sent him off to Washin'ton town With his best dress suit still his buckskins brown A livin' legend of growin' renown Davy, Davy Crockett, the Canebrake Congressman
He went off to Congress an' served a spell Fixin' up the Govern'ments an' laws as well Took over Washin'ton so we heered tell An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear
Him an' his jokes travelled all through the land An' his speeches made him friends to beat the band His politickin' was their favorite brand An' everyone wanted to shake his hand Davy, Davy Crockett, helpin' his legend grow
He knew when he spoke he sounded the knell Of his hopes for White House an' fame as well But he spoke out strong so hist'ry books tell An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear
When he come home his politickin' done The western march had just begun So he packed his gear an' his trusty gun An' lit out grinnin' to follow the sun Davy, Davy Crockett, leadin' the pioneer
He heard of Houston an' Austin so To the Texas plains he jest had to go Where freedom was fightin' another foe An' they needed him at the Alamo Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear
His land is biggest an' his land is best From grassy plains to the mountain crest He's ahead of us all meetin' the test Followin' his legend into the West Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Thank you Tom for posting this. At the rate we were going, I'd be eighty-three by the time we got the whole song done... I bet between all of us, thought, we could have worded it together, verse by verse! I have big hopes and faith in us if we all did it together. Individually, we'd be lost!
Now, Walt and I can at least sing it in our heads in its true form. Thanks again, Tom! :) :)
Benedict Arnold 