PRINCESS OF THE WEST by Bernie Griff
Princess of the Shoshone fast horses of her tribe
She rode swift with her brother
One fateful day I will describe
The minnetaree's took her - destroyed her village too
Killed the chief, her father
Oh now what could she do - oh now what could she do
Chorus:
Sacajawea - princess of the land
Sacajawea - to an ocean far and grand
Leading two captains up rivers flowing strong
Crossing the Rockies - Columbia roll along
Lived with the Minetaree's - three years she did wait
Till they sold her to a Frenchman
Took her to a better fate - took her to a better fate
One day on the river a great ship came in view
Strange white men with gifts came
And they hired Charbonneau - and they hired Charbonneau
Chorus:
Can you guide us up the rivers to the Rockies in the sky?
Can you help us find some horses
Talk to Indians passing by - talk to Indians passing by?
Can you help us find a way west to an ocean big and wide?
Sacajawea will you be our Westward Indian guide
Be our Westward Indian guide?
Chorus:
First woman cross the great divide helped open up the west
Clark and Lewis were so grateful
She could find trails that were the best - find trails that were the best
Belt of blue beads - shoes of deerhide - child upon her back
She sees footprints no one sees
Shoshone Princess Sacajawea - Shoshone Princess Sacajawea! (CH:)
THERE ONCE WAS A WEST
THERE ONCE WAS A WEST WE NEVER KNEW
THERE WERE DAYS OF BLAZING TRAILS BRAND NEW
THERE WERE RIVERS WIDE AND MOUNTAINS HIGH
AND FOLKS TO MATCH THE FRONTIER SKY
DAUGHTER OF A CHIEF TO LEAD
TWO MEN WESTWARD WITH GREAT HEED
HAWKEN RIFLE - GREEN RIVER KNIFE
AND WAGONS WEST FOR A BRAND NEW LIFE
THEN A GLINT OF ORE AND A CRY OF GOLD
AND A STREAM OF MEN AND A DREAM TO HOLD
ACROSS THE DESERT OR AROUND THE HORN
NO ONE WAS READY FOR THE COMING STORM
WAGONS ROLLIN WITH THE 49'ERS
A YOUNG GIRL SINGING FOR THE DUSTY MINERS
A STRIKE - A BOOM TOWN - A RUSH OF MEN
THE DESOLATE GHOST OF A BOOM TOWN'S END
FOUR MEN AND A BOLD NEW PLAN
A RAILROAD THROUGH THE WESTWARD SPAN
CHINESE WHO SWEATED FOR A WAGE
THERE WERE BADMEN TOO WHO ROBBED THE STAGE
THE ROUGH-HEWN COWBOY AND THE U.S. MAIL
THE BOWIE KNIFE - THE OREGON TRAIL
THESE ARE THE PIECES OF THE QUEST
THE FLEETING SOUNDS AND SHADOWS REST
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I KNOW BEST
LETS PUT THEM TOGETHER TO RECALL THE WEST
PART II
SO WHERE DID THE WEST BEGIN?
WAS IT WAGON DUST IN THE PRAIRIE WIND?
WAS IT WEST OF ST. LOUIS OR TENNESSEE?
WAS IT LEAVING THE FARM, A FAMILY OF THREE?
YES, WHERE DID THE WEST BEGIN?
WAS IT MEN LIKE KIT CARSON OR A FRONTIER WHIM?
WAS IT SEEKING A BETTER START SOMEWHERE?
WAS IT JUST ADVENTURE OR A NEIGHBOR'S DARE?
WAS IT TRAPPING-HUNTING, THE URGE TO MOVE ON?
WAS IT SIX-GUNS, SALOONS OR A CATTLE'S YAWN?
OR A COYOTE'S WAIL ON A LONELY TRAIL?
OR A CIRCLING BUZZARD IN A DESERT SAIL?
YES, THERE ONCE WAS A WEST WE NEVER KNEW
AND IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SONG OR TWO
SO SING OF THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THE WEST
SING OF THE TIMES OF THE WEST HO QUEST!
by Bernie Matthew Griff
JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
CHORUS: JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
JEDEDIAH - (WAY OUT WEST)
JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
(WELL THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER OTHER SIDE-A THAT CREST!)
SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER OTHER SIDE-A THAT CREST-EST -
THAT CREST!
JEDEDIAH WENT OUT WEST - TOOK HIS RIFLE AN' HIS VEST
TOOK HIMSELF FOR A RUGGED LIFE - EVEN TOOK HIS GREEN-RIVER KNIFE- HIS KNIFE
HE MET JIM CLYMAN ON THE WAY - MET OLE SUBLETTE SO THEY SAY
MET KIT CARSON I SUPPOSE - ALL MOUNTAIN MEN OF BUCKSKIN CLOTHES -
BUCKSKIN CLOTHES
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, what cha wearin''? Jedediah, (Ya mean way out West?)
Jedediah, what cha wearin'?
Well, it's the kind you can patch up wherever ya go
The kind you can patch up wherever ya go-go-go
Buckskin clothes!
HE MET THE BLACKFEET AND THE CROW - FOUGHT THE GRIZZILY IN THE FREEZIN' SNOW
HE HUNTED THE PLAINS FOR THE BUFFALO - HE BLAZED A TRAIL TO IDAHO HO-HO IDAHO!
JED OPENED UP A WESTERN DOOR - WHEN HE FOUND SOUTH PASS IN '24
TOOK A WAGON TRAIN OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR - WEREN'T NO FREEWAY THAT'S FER SURE -
YEAH! THAT'S FER SURE
(CHORUS:) JEDEDIAH, WHO ARE YA TAKIN''? JEDEDIAH, (YA MEAN WAY OUT WEST?)
JEDEDIAH, WHO ARE YA TAKIN'? I'M TAKIN FOLKS OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR
I'M TAKIN' FOLKS OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR - YEAH, THAT'S FER SURE
HE BOUNCED AN ECHO OFF CHIMNEY ROCK - PULLED OUT HIS TIMEPEICE GAVE IT A KNOCK
WELL I'LL BE DURNED OLE JED DID SAY -
ECHO TOOK TEN HOURS TO COME THIS-A WAY! hey-hey-This-a-way!
YOUR ST. LOUIS BEAVER SKINS WITH YOU -
YOU LOAD 'EM UP ON YOUR BEST BURRO
ALL THE MOUNTAIN MEN ARE HEADIN' THERE TOO - A PLACE THEY CALL THE RONDEVOUS -
WHO? RONDEVOUS!
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, where ya goin'? Jedediah, (Way out West!)
Jedediah, where ya goin'? (Where ya dance n' sing the whole night through)
(Where ya dance n' sing the whole night through-who-who
The Rondevous!)
OLE JED HE WHISTLED A HAPPY TUNE - HE GLANCED AT THE SUN N' GAZED AT THE MOON
HE WINKED HIS EYE AT HIS PET RACCOON - SAID LORD THIS LAST TRAIL COME TOO DURN SOON! TOO DURN SOON!
BUT HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO COMANCHE LAND -
THEY TOOK HIS LIFE THOUGH HE TOOK A STAND
JED TOOK HIS LAST BREATH IN MOUNTAIN TAN
GAVE HIS HEART TO THE HAWK - GAVE HIS LIFE TO THE LAND -
TO THE LAND
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, where ya goin'? Jedediah,(Way out West!)
Jedediah, where ya goin'?
(Well, there's somethin' I FOUND other side 'a that crest!)
FOUND somethin' that's better other side 'a that crest!
ALL MUSIC STOPS!!!
What!?What Did you find there Jedediah Strong Smith!
(WELL, IT'S THEM FLAPJACKS OLE KIT CARSON MAKES UP THERE AT FORT HALL!)
OH, YER JOSHIN' ME JED!
(I'm not a-kiddin' ya, LoriMae I reckon them flapjacks is tarnation tastiest morsels this side a' the Snake River!.....fade out the tracks)
JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
CHORUS: JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
JEDEDIAH - (WAY OUT WEST)
JEDEDIAH, WHERE YA GOIN'?
(WELL THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER OTHER SIDE-A THAT CREST!)
SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER OTHER SIDE-A THAT CREST-EST -
THAT CREST!
JEDEDIAH WENT OUT WEST - TOOK HIS RIFLE AN' HIS VEST
TOOK HIMSELF FOR A RUGGED LIFE - EVEN TOOK HIS GREEN-RIVER KNIFE- HIS KNIFE
HE MET JIM CLYMAN ON THE WAY - MET OLE SUBLETTE SO THEY SAY
MET KIT CARSON I SUPPOSE - ALL MOUNTAIN MEN OF BUCKSKIN CLOTHES -
BUCKSKIN CLOTHES
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, what cha wearin''? Jedediah, (Ya mean way out West?)
Jedediah, what cha wearin'?
Well, it's the kind you can patch up wherever ya go
The kind you can patch up wherever ya go-go-go
Buckskin clothes!
HE MET THE BLACKFEET AND THE CROW - FOUGHT THE GRIZZILY IN THE FREEZIN' SNOW
HE HUNTED THE PLAINS FOR THE BUFFALO - HE BLAZED A TRAIL TO IDAHO HO-HO IDAHO!
JED OPENED UP A WESTERN DOOR - WHEN HE FOUND SOUTH PASS IN '24
TOOK A WAGON TRAIN OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR - WEREN'T NO FREEWAY THAT'S FER SURE -
YEAH! THAT'S FER SURE
(CHORUS:) JEDEDIAH, WHO ARE YA TAKIN''? JEDEDIAH, (YA MEAN WAY OUT WEST?)
JEDEDIAH, WHO ARE YA TAKIN'? I'M TAKIN FOLKS OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR
I'M TAKIN' FOLKS OUT ON A DUSTY TOUR - YEAH, THAT'S FER SURE
HE BOUNCED AN ECHO OFF CHIMNEY ROCK - PULLED OUT HIS TIMEPEICE GAVE IT A KNOCK
WELL I'LL BE DURNED OLE JED DID SAY -
ECHO TOOK TEN HOURS TO COME THIS-A WAY! hey-hey-This-a-way!
YOUR ST. LOUIS BEAVER SKINS WITH YOU -
YOU LOAD 'EM UP ON YOUR BEST BURRO
ALL THE MOUNTAIN MEN ARE HEADIN' THERE TOO - A PLACE THEY CALL THE RONDEVOUS -
WHO? RONDEVOUS!
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, where ya goin'? Jedediah, (Way out West!)
Jedediah, where ya goin'? (Where ya dance n' sing the whole night through)
(Where ya dance n' sing the whole night through-who-who
The Rondevous!)
OLE JED HE WHISTLED A HAPPY TUNE - HE GLANCED AT THE SUN N' GAZED AT THE MOON
HE WINKED HIS EYE AT HIS PET RACCOON - SAID LORD THIS LAST TRAIL COME TOO DURN SOON! TOO DURN SOON!
BUT HE GOT TOO CLOSE TO COMANCHE LAND -
THEY TOOK HIS LIFE THOUGH HE TOOK A STAND
JED TOOK HIS LAST BREATH IN MOUNTAIN TAN
GAVE HIS HEART TO THE HAWK - GAVE HIS LIFE TO THE LAND -
TO THE LAND
(CHORUS:) Jedediah, where ya goin'? Jedediah,(Way out West!)
Jedediah, where ya goin'?
(Well, there's somethin' I FOUND other side 'a that crest!)
FOUND somethin' that's better other side 'a that crest!
ALL MUSIC STOPS!!!
What!?What Did you find there Jedediah Strong Smith!
(WELL, IT'S THEM FLAPJACKS OLE KIT CARSON MAKES UP THERE AT FORT HALL!)
OH, YER JOSHIN' ME JED!
(I'm not a-kiddin' ya, LoriMae I reckon them flapjacks is tarnation tastiest morsels this side a' the Snake River!.....fade out the tracks)
THE BALLAD OF JAMES BECKWOURTH
Chorus: He was as a mountain man, he wore a buckskin tan
He lived with the Crows - everywhere he goes
Bet a beaver skin an' a grizzly bear
He knows the way to get you where you're goin'
You're goin' - you're goin - somewhere!
Born in Virginia - mother was a slave
Had a wealthy grandpa - learned the blacksmith trade
Was a hunter for a mining camp - took a boat to New Orleans
Went through the Rocky Mountains - trapped the beaver in the streams! (Chorus:)
In Illinois he learned to trap - learned to hunt there too
Wanted everyone's attention - led a grizzly down the avenue!
Took a grizzly down on Main Street - they say lived a spell with the Crows
Took an Indian Princess for his wife - heard tell he was a chief of the Souix (Chorus:)
Lived with the Blackfeet and the Crow - with Ashley explored the land
With the Rocky Mountain Fur Comapny - always wore his buckskin tan
Met up with Bill Sublette - an expert trapper too
They went out on a journey - to make friends with the Crow!
(Chorus:)
Died out on a mission - Crow Indians' land
Buried him among their chiefs - for they thought that he was grand
So remember Beckwourth Pass - in Sierra Mountains high
And Beckwourth California - it's a tribute in the sky!
Chorus:
BALLAD OF THE BOWIE KNIFE
by Bernie Griff
Bowie was born in Tennessee - left for kentucky when he was three
Theh they moved near New Orleans
Jim was six feet tall when he was seventeen
Jim rode a gator at just 12 years - he was a lad who had no fears
Fine aim with a lariat -rifle too
There wasn't much young Bowie couldn't do!
Chorus: The Bowie knife - the Bowie knife
If your aim is true - it can save your life
"The musket's too slow!" said a frontier wife
"An' I reckon nothin's faster than a Bowie knife!"
Mom spent her time behind a spinnin' wheel
Pa spent his time in a sugar cane field
Boys went huntin' after work was done
In the afternoon they could have their fun
Bowie could throw a knife straight and true
He could ride real good an' set bear traps too
He was fond of roamin' in the big bayou
In his spare time he told a tall tale or two! (CHORUS:)
While polin' his pirogue one fine day
He saw a man painting something on the way
He was painting a bird near a cypress tree
John Audubon met James Bowie!
He won his first duel with his handy knife
In his second duel he almost lost his life
While mending he designed that famous blade
By Jim Beach in Arkansas it was made! (CHORUS:)
He was painted by Audubon in Lousian'
Tall and handsome in buckskin tan
A frontier hero at six feet two
With his hand on his Bowie knife lookin' at you!
Crockett got his rifle - Bowie honed his blade
Travis said, "Soldiers get ready for a raid!"
Santa Anna said, "Travis you had better go!"
Houston said, "Remember the Alamo!"
Jim fought for honor and Texas that day
His deeds help make our country great
He fought till he died with those brave brave men
Jim Bowie, we'll remember you - America's friend!
Chorus: The Bowie knife the Bowie knife
If your air is true it can save your life
"The musket's too slow!" said a frontier wife
"An' I reckon nothin's faster than a Bowie knife!"
WAGONS ROLLIN’ WEST Mp3 for Wagons Rollin' West
Hear the wagons rollin’ down the trail
They are rollin rollin’ rollin’ you can hear the
oxen wail
It’s a long way from St. Joseph to the ocean don’t
you guess
And the wagons are rollin’ down the trails and
goin’ west
Chorus: Goin’ west...goin’ west
Oh, the
wagons are rollin’ an’ they got to beat the test
‘Tween April rains to snowin’ in September is the
best
Way to keep your wagons rollin’ rollin’
rollin’ to the west
We all left Indiana weeks ago
Thirty in the wagon train...we all met at St. Jo
The long Platte River is our destination for today
And the wagons are rollin’ down the trail without delay
Chorus:
They say Independence Rock is quite a sight
Climb and chip your name in history then go rollin’ till
it’s night
Then take South Pass past Bridger and Fort Hall to Soda Springs
Cause you’re rollin’ rollin’ westward to
see what fortune brings
Chorus:
Then it’s southward through Nevada rollin’ hard
At last the Humboldt River greets you...hey it’s
gettin’ closer pard
We’re almost there to California heard the trail guide say
We’ll be rollin’ past Mormon’s Camp if we
don’t lose the way
Chorus: Goin’ west...goin’ west
Oh, the
wagons are rollin’ an’ they got to beat the test
‘Tween April rains to snowin’ in September is the
best
Way to keep your wagons rollin’ rollin’
rollin’ to the west
© Bernie Griff * San Geronimo, CA 1995
BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON
From Boston round the Horn came two who would face dange
They stowed away and bound for California
You could say the seas were stormy
You could say the food was wormy
But they finally reached the gate of San Francisco
Chorus: California, that's my new home
I can almost see the nuggets in the streams
California, my new home
I can see the bearded miners full of dreams
Now Praiseworthy and Jamocha Jack did come to San Francisco
Then to Sacramento rode to mine for gold
They bought picks and toms and pans
Met "Pitch Pine Billy" and "Mountain Jim"
They learned to pana for gold in the streams aof the Sacramento
Chorus: California, that's my new home
Where I'll stake my claim at the fork where the river winds
California, my new home
I can almost smell the pancakes in the pines
The diggin's did go dry and the paydirt it played out
49'ers left this boomtown like the last
Them prices they were high - it was too hot or cold or dry
Now the ghost towns are the shadows of the past