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1. Poem: There Once Was A West     10. By the Great Horn Spoon  Mp3                           

2. Princess of the West                       11. The Empire Mine

3. Jedediah, Where Ya Goin'?            12. Lotta Crabtree (The Elfin Entertainer)

4. The Ballad of James Beckwourth    13. Nellie Cashman (The Saint of the Sourdoughs)

5. Fremont's Flag                                14. Sam Hamilton's Ride 

6. Ballad of the Bowie Knife                15. Black Bart the Po8  Mp3

7. James Marshall's Gold                     16. The Big 4

8. Wagons Rollin' West   Mp3                       17. The Railroad Builders

9. The Oregon Trail Hornpipe

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:)

 

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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

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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)

 

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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:

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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!"

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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

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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

Chorus: California, that's my new home
I'll take my pile and send for Saralee
California, my new home
I'll wait for her in 'Frisco by the sea

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