The Ballad of John Colter is a song from Westward Ho, the Wagons! and sung by Fess Parker.
Lyrics[]
John Colter was a trapper
And he knew the ways of game
but it wasn't for his trapping
That he won immortal fame
He traveled up the Yellowstone
And discovered Colter's Hell
But isn't of his geysers
That my yarn is goin' to tell
No, sir
Sing of the bravest mountain man
Sing of the strong and the fleet
Colter's courage was in his heart
And his speed was in his feet
Now John Colter heard the Blackfeet
Claimed the land off the the west
But he said he'd do his trapping
For the trapping it was best
He went and took his share of fur
Then started back to Fort Manwell
And he didn't get no warning
When the Blackfeet started to yell
Sing of the bravest mountain man
Sing of the strong and the fleet
Colter's courage was in his heart
And his speed was in his feet
Well John Colter knew the Blackfeet
Must bleed him unafriad
He looked his captor in the eye
A dangerous game he played
The Blackfoot chief said to his men
This prisoner is so brave
we take his clothes, and turn him loose
For the chance his scalp to save
They set loose without his clothes
Without his shoe and gun
His courage was his only hope
A race for his life to run
Their fastest runners after him
Their lances waving high
The knowledge poundin' his heart
That he had to win or die
Sing of the bravest mountain man
Sing of the strong and the fleet
Colter's courage was in his heart
And his speed was in his feet
Well John Colter ran and ran and he ran
like an antelope in freight
Straight across the cactus thickets
Like an arrow in its flight
Lungs a-burstin' with the effort
Every muscle starts to scream
Six miles of endless runnin'
And suddenly there's a stream
Dives deep into the water,
Breathing through a hollow reed
Leaving Blackfoot runners baffled
by the wonder of his speed
John waited til the red men left
Then walked back to Fort Manwell
Three-hundred miles of barefoot trail
Said he'd like to rest a spell
Sing of the bravest mountain man
Sing of the strong and the fleet
Colter's courage was in his heart
And his speed was in his feet
And his speed was in his feet