"The Martins and the Coys" is an old novelty song, that was written in 1936, and introduced by Ted Weems and His Orchestra. It tells the story of a hillbilly feud that was finally broken when the last surviving members of each family fell in love. The song was mainly inspired by the real-life feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys.
In 1946, the song was adapted into the first segment of Walt Disney's animated feature, Make Mine Music, where it was performed by the vocal group The King's Men. The song was used because it was published by Bourne, who was also Disney's music publisher at the time. When the film was released on DVD, this song was omitted from its release due to its comedic depictions of gunplay.
The song was later performed in Episode 521 of The Muppet Show.
Lyrics[]
Gather 'round me, children, and I'll tell a story
Of the mountains in the days when guns was law
When two families got disputin',
It was bound to end in shootin'
So just listen and I'll tell you what I saw
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
And they took up family-feudin' when they'd meet (ever' durn time!)
They would shoot each other quicker
Than it took your eye to flicker
They could knock a squirrel's eye out at ninety feet
All their fightin' started one bright Sunday mornin' (I remember!)
When old Grandpa Coy was full of mountain dew-ew-ew (HIC!) dew-ew-ew (HIC!) dew-ew-ew-ew-ew (HIC!)
Just as quiet as a church mouse,
He stole in the Martins' henhouse
'Cause the Coys, they needed eggs for breakfast, too (Bawk bawk bawk A COY! A COY! A COY!)
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
But old Grandpa Coy has gone where angels live
When they found him on the mountain,
He was bleedin' like a fountain
'Cause they punctured him 'til he looked like a sieve
So the Coys started right out to avenge him
And they didn't even take the time to mourn
They went out to do some killin'
Where the Martins was distillin'
And they found ol' Abel Martin makin' corn
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
And ol' Abel Martin was the next to go
Though he saw the Coys a-comin'
He had hardly started runnin'
When a volley shook the hills and laid him low
After that, they started out to fight in earnest
And they scarred the mountains up with shot and shell
There was uncles, brothers, cousins
Why, they bumped 'em off in dozens
Just how many bit the dust, it's hard to tell
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
At the art of killin', they became quite deft
They all know'd they shouldn't do it
But before they hardly knew it,
On each side, they only had one person left
Now, the sole remainin' Martin was a maiden
And as purty as a picture was this Grace (wolf-whistle)
While the one survivin' boy
Was the handsome Henry Coy
And the folks all knew they'd soon meet face to face
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
But their shootin' and their killin' sure played hob
And it didn't bring no joy
To know that Grace and Henry Coy
Both had sworn that they would finish up the job
So, they finally met upon a mountain pathway
And Henry Coy, he aimed his gun at Grace (right at Grace)
He was set to pull the trigger
When he saw her purty figger,
You could see that love had kicked him in the face
Oh, the Martins and the Coys, they was reckless mountain boys
But they say their ghostly cussin' gives ya chills
'Cause the hatchet sure was buried
When sweet Grace and Henry married
It broke up the best durn feud in these here hills
You may think that this is where the story ended
But I'm tellin' you, them ghosts don't cuss no more
'Cause since Grace and Henry wedded,
They'd fight worse than all the rest did
And they'd carry on the feud just like before
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