"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" is a song with music by George Bruns and lyrics by Thomas W. Blackburn.
The song was introduced on the TV miniseries Davy Crockett, first telecast on December 15, 1954, on ABC's Disneyland. Fess Parker played the role of Davy Crockett and continued in four other episodes made by Walt Disney Studios. It was sung by The Wellingtons. Buddy Ebsen co-starred as George "Georgie" Russel, and Jeff York played legendary boatman Mike Fink. It is included in Disney's Sing-Along Songs: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.
The first album version was recorded by Bill Hayes, quickly followed by versions by Fess Parker and Tennessee Ernie Ford (recorded February 7, 1955). All three versions made the Billboard magazine charts in 1955: Hayes' version made #1 on the weekly chart (from March 26 through April 23) and #7 for the year, Parker's reached #6 on the weekly charts and #31 for the year, while Ford's peaked at #4 on the weekly country chart and #5 on the weekly pop chart and charted at #37 for the year. A fourth version, by bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman, reached #10 on the radio charts in May 1955. The song also reached #1 on the Cash Box charts, from March 26 through May 14, 1955. A contemporary version also exists of the Western singing group the Sons of the Pioneers. Over ten million copies of the song were sold.
In the 1980s, the song was featured on The Disney Channel as a music video on DTV, set to footage of Pioneer Days, No Hunting and Californy 'er Bust. Interestingly, the DTV version is sung almost entirely in Japanese by Kazuya Kosaka for Crown Records, save for the "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee" refrain, which Kosaka sings in English at the end.
Lyrics[]
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
In 1813, 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 b'ar an' twic't 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 forevermore
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 b'ar an' twict as strong
An' knows he's right 'cause he ain't 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 politikin' 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!
This version of the song was performed by They Might Be Giants, though combined with futuristic elements. It was included in the 2008 album Disney Music Block Party and later in the 2009 album, Here Comes Science.
Davy, Davy Crockett, travelin' through outer space...
Reborn in the stratosphere and Saturn-bound
Flyin' fast and miles off the ground
Jumped from the spaceship just to look around
And shot off his gun without makin' a sound
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of his brand new place!
Davy, Davy Crockett, travelin' through outer space!
Off went his rocket at the speed of light
Flyin' so fast, there was no day or night
Messin' around with the fabric of time
He knows who's guilty 'fore there's even a crime
Davy, Davy Crockett, the buckskin astronaut!
Davy, Davy Crockett, there's more than we were taught!
Hidin' in the cargo was a robot drone
Programmed to destroy Davy's spaceship home
Davy switched out his brains, now the drone's a dog clone
Named him "Copernicus" and threw him a bone
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of his brand new place!
Davy, Davy Crockett, travelin' through outer space!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of his brand new place!
Davy, Davy Crockett, travelin' through outer space!
Henry: Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Tamed him a b'ar when he was only three
Henry/Sammy: Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Henry: Off through the woods he's a marchin' along
(Sammy: Off by the woods he's a marchin' along)
Henry/Sammy: Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song
Sammy: Itchin' fer fightin' an' rightin' a wrong
He's ringy as a b'ar an' twic't as strong!
(interrupts when Big Al appears on stage singing a reprise of "Blood on the Saddle")
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Killed him a bear when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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, the man who don't know fear!
He went off to Congress and he served a spell,
Fixin' up the Government and laws as well
Took over Washington so we heard tell
And patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
When he'd come home his politikin' done
The western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
And lit out a grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, headin' out West again!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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 forevermore
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
He went off to Congress an' he served a spell
Fixin' up the Govern'ment an' laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so I heard tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
When he'd come home his politikin' was done
While the western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
An' lit out a grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, leadin' the pioneer!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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 forevermore
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
He went off to Congress an' served a spell
Fixin' up the Govern'ment an' laws as well
He took over Washin'ton so I heard tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
When he'd come home his politikin' done
While the western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
An' lit out a grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, leadin' the pioneer!
He heard of Houston an' Austin an' 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, king of the wild frontier!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
In 1813, 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' singin' a song
Itchin' fer fightin' an' rightin' a wrong
He's ringy as a b'ar an' twic't as strong
Davy, Davy Crockett, the buckskin buccaneer!
He 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 forevermore
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
He gave his word an' he gave 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!
He went off to Congress an' he served a spell
Fixin' up the Govern'ment an' laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so we heard tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
When he'd come home his politikin' done
The big western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
An' lit out a 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
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's crest
He's ahead of us all meetin' the test
Followin' his legend into the West
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
He went off to Congress an' served a spell
Fixin' up the Govern'ment an' laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so we heard tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
He heard of Houston an' Austin an' 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, king of the wild frontier!
In 1813, 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, haul your britches out here!
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 b'ar an' twic't as strong
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
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!
Off through the woods we're a marchin' along
Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song
Itchin' fer fightin' an' rightin' a wrong
We're ringy as b'ars an' twict as strong
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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 through the swamps on the Florida Trace
Davy, Davy Crockett, trackin' the redskins down!
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!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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 forevermore
Davy, Davy Crockett, the buckskin pioneer!
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' a singin' a song
He's ringy as a b'ar an' twict as strong
An' knows he's right 'cause he ain't 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 lost his love an' his grief was gall
In his heart he wanted to leave it all
An' lose himself in the forest tall
But he answered instead to his country's call
Davy, Davy Crockett, beginnin' his campaign!
Davy, Davy Crockett, wins by a landslide vote!
Davy, Davy Crockett, won by a landslide vote!
They 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 done what he could and he made a dent
In the problems facin' the government
But his biggest chore and his main intent
Was keepin' an eye on the President
Davy, Davy Crockett, servin' his country well!
Him an' his jokes travelled all through the land
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 that he sounded the knell
Of his hopes for the White House an' fame as well
But he spoke out strong so the hist'ry books tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
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 forevermore
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
He went off to Congress an' he served a spell
Fixin' up the Govern'ment an' laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so we heard tell
An' patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein' his duty clear!
When he'd come home his politikin' done
The western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
And lit out a grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, headin' out West again!
He heard of Houston an' Austin an' so
To the Texas plains he had to go
Where land was free and there was room to grow
An' freedom was fightin' another foe!
Davy, Davy Crockett, and Crockett's company!
Storybooks tell they were all cut low
But the truth of it is, this just ain't so
Their spirits'll live and their legends grow
As long as we remember the Alamo!
Davy, Davy Crockett, and Crockett's company!
Davy, Davy Crockett, fightin' for liberty!
The country was big when it was new
The best man was big and their yarns was, too
And their tallest tales folks believed was true
So the more they were told, the more they grew
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Hist'ry remembers the name of his gun
And some of the deeds he really done
But most of his chores fer freedom and fun
Got turned into legends, and this here is one
Davy, Davy Crockett, helpin' his fame spread wide
Had a lotta furs that he aimed to ship
And he set his mind on a river trip
When a braggin' boatman give him some lip
A-claimin' there was no man he couldn't whip
Davy, Davy Crockett, tanglin' with big Mike Fink!
He don't take nothin' from no man at all
The bigger they brag, the harder they fall
The tougher they are, the louder they squall
When they get what fer in a free-fer-all
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Ain't no trick at all to polin' keelboats
We can beat Mike Fink with anything that floats
Now we got the hang while we feel our oats
With trusted friends down their ornery throats
Davy, Davy Crockett, tanglin' with big Mike Fink
He kept his word about his victory
Saw it wasn't set down in history
So Mike stayed king of the river, you see
And the real good friend he turned out to be
Davy, Davy Crockett, makin' up with big Mike Fink!
The country was big when it was new
The best man was big and their yarns was, too
Their tallest tales folks believed was true
So the more they were told, the more they grew
Davy, Davy Crockett, helpin' his fame spread wide!
The deadliest devils he ever met
Catchin' river travelers in their net
Was some pirate so mean that brave men swept
Whatever their names are remembered yet
Davy, Davy Crockett, walkin' into their trap!
Little Harpe was bad as a man can be
Big Harpe was worse in his piracy
Bloody Sam Mason was worst of the three
Blamin' the Injuns for their deviltry
Davy, Davy Crockett, caught up with them one day!
Davy, Davy Crockett, headin' for Tennessee!
Off through the woods we're a marchin' along
Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song
He's ringy as a b'ar an' twict as strong,
Thinks he's right 'cause he ain't often wrong
Davy, Davy Crockett, back in the woods again!
Kept his promise to Mike and his crew
Kept his promise to the Injun chiefs, too
For the river was clear all the way through
And blamin' the Injuns was a-proven untrue
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Killed him a b'ar when he was only three
Davy, Davy Crockett, the buckskin pioneer!
In 1813, the Creeks uprose,
Addin' redskin arrows to the country's woes
Now old Andy Jackson, as everybody knows
Is the general they sent to fight the foes!
Off through the woods he's a marchin' along
Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song...
(continued instrumental part)
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 through the swamps on the Florida Trace
Davy, Davy Crockett, trackin' the redskins down!
Home fer the winter with his family
Happy as squirrels in the ol' gum tree
Till spring set in and he started to be
Restless fer places he wanted to see
Davy, Davy Crockett, itchin' to move again!
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 lost his love an' his grief was gall
In his heart he wanted to leave it all
An' lose himself in the forest tall
But he answered instead to his country's call
Davy, Davy Crockett, beginnin' his campaign!
...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!
Him an' his jokes travelled all through the land
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 his career was done
But he spoke out strong and his point he won
Then packed his gear an' his trusty gun
An' lit out grinnin' to follow the sun
Davy, Davy Crockett, hittin' the trail again!
He heard of Houston an' Austin an' so
To the Texas plains he jest had to go
Where land was free and there was room to grow
An' freedom was fightin' another foe!
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Storybooks tell they was all cut low
But the truth of it is, this just ain't so
Their spirits'll live and their legends grow
As long as we remember the Alamo!
Davy, Davy Crockett, fightin' for liberty!
The country was big when it was new
The best man was big and their yarns was, too
And their tallest tales folks believed was true
So the more they were told, the more they grew
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Hist'ry remembers the name of his gun
And some of the deeds he really done
But most of his chores fer freedom and fun
Got turned into legends, and this here is one
Davy, Davy Crockett, helpin' his fame spread wide
Had a lotta furs that he aimed to ship
And he set his mind on a river trip
When a braggin' boatman give him some lip
A-claimin' there was no man he couldn't whip
Davy, Davy Crockett, tanglin' with big Mike Fink!
He don't take nothin' from no man at all
The bigger they brag, the harder they fall
The tougher they are, the louder they squall
When they get what fer in a free-fer-all
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
Ain't no trick at all to polin' keelboats
We can beat Mike Fink with anything that floats
We got the hang while we feel our oats
With trusted friends down their ornery throats
Davy, Davy Crockett, tanglin' with big Mike Fink
They were darn good friends from that day on
Davy sold his furs and then was gone
Sailin' north with Mike to the land of the fawn
Where a man could live by brain and brawn
Davy, Davy Crockett, off for the woods again
From the mouth of the river up to its head
Boatmen and travelers was filled with dread
'Cause redskin pirates was raisin' old Ned
And the whole blamed river was a-runnin' red
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don't know fear!
Off through the woods we're a marchin' along
Makin' up yarns an' a singin' a song
He's ringy as a b'ar an' twict as strong,
Thinks he's right 'cause he ain't often wrong
Davy, Davy Crockett, back in the woods again!
Kept his promise to Mike and his crew
Kept his promise to the Injun chiefs, too
For the river was clear all the way through
And blamin' the Injuns was a-proven untrue
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!
The Crockett craze[]
Walt Disney Productions launched a massive marketing campaign in the UK in 1955 to publicize the film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (released in Britain in 1956) and to make the country's youth "Crockett conscious." There was already a "Crockett craze" in the U.S., where the episodes had become wildly popular. Crockett merchandise was produced en masse, the most iconic item being the imitation coonskin cap. The craze became immensely popular amongst schoolchildren, and the ballad made its way across the Atlantic Ocean. A French version by Annie Cordy was number 1 for 5 weeks in France in August 1956.
The United States Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, a Democratic presidential hopeful, wore a Davy Crockett cap during the 1956 campaign, as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee. Stevenson-Kefauver lost in the general election to Eisenhower-Nixon.
The Crockett phenomenon is referenced in books of the time such as Back in the Jug Agane, one of the Molesworth series by Geoffrey Willans and Ronald Searle.
The craze was referenced in the film Back to the Future, which is set predominantly in 1955. In the film, the Fess Parker version of the song is heard on a jukebox and, in a later scene, one of Lorraine Baines' brothers appears wearing a coonskin cap. The song is sung by Henry and Sammy in Country Bear Jamboree. Although in this version, since bears are the star of the show, the lyric is changed to "tamed him a b'ar when he was only three". The 2009 film Fantastic Mr. Fox opens with the eponymous fox playing the song on his belt radio.
Disney Parks[]
In the Disney Parks attraction Country Bear Jamboree, the song is sung by Henry Bear with Sammy the Raccoon singing the first lines. Unlike in many versions, the lyrics "Killed him a b'ar when he was only three'" was changed to "Tamed him a b'ar when he was only three" to match the tone of said attraction. The song ends abruptly when Big Al sings a reprise of the song "Blood on the Saddle".
Trivia[]
- The song was parodied by Daisy Duck in House of Mouse as "Daisy Crockett".
- Nick Russo sung it in the Season 2 Blossom episode "The Letter".
- The song was given a Yiddish parody by comedian and clarinetist Mickey Katz (father of Joel Grey) as "Duvid Crocket, King of Delancey Street". Jennifer Grey, Katz's granddaughter, also performed it on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
- The song was heard in the opening scene from 20th Century Studios and Wes Anderson's stop motion film, Fantastic Mr. Fox from the portable radio.
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This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page The Ballad of Davy Crockett. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. |