As an avid collector of television theme music, I’ve got my favorites-Cimmeron Strip, Bat Masterson, and of course Maverick, but my #1 pick would be The High Chapparal.
*We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck Bonanza.
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family tree.
We got hold of a pot of gold, Bonanza.
With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim.
Here in the West, we’re livin’ the best, Bonanza, if anyone fights any one of us, he’s go a fight with me, Bonanza.*
*Daniel Boone was a man!
Yes, a big man!
If he frowned at a river
In July all the water would freeze!
But a peaceable, pioneer fella was Dan
When he smiled all the ice would thaw!
The singin’est, laughin’est, happiest man
The frontier ever saw!
Daniel Boone was a man!
Yes, a big man!
With a dream of a country that’d
Always forever be free!
What a Boone! What a do-er!
What a dream-come-er-true-er was he!*
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin
Yeah, I’d say Rawhide wins it–it was written by Dmitri Tiomkin, who also wrote the film music for such westerns as High Noon, Red River and The Gunfight at the O.K.Corral.
No lyrics, but the theme for The Wild Wild West was a good one.
In a different vein, but still western…
*The end of the Civil War was near
When quite accidentally,
A hero who sneezed abruptly seized
Retreat and reversed it to victory.
His medal of honor pleased and thrilled
his proud little family group.
While pinning it on some blood was spilled
And so it was planned he’d command F Troop.
Where Indian fights are colorful sights
and nobody takes a lickin’
Where pale face and redskin
Both turn chicken.
When killing and fighting get them down,
They know their morale can’t droop.
As long as they all relax in town
Before they resume with a bang and a boom
F Troop.
*
ROFL! I had forgotten about F-Troop. One of my faves, f’sure.
The theme to Branded was a good one, too. And, in a Chuck Conners theme, The Rifleman was always one I tuned in for.
The lyrics to the best Western TV show you never saw: The Ballad of Palindrome.
I always knew it as: (thanks to watching Cheers!)
We got a right to pick a little fight - Bonanza!
If anyone fights anyone of us he’s gotta fight with me!
We’re not a one to saddle up and run: Bonanza!
Anyone of us who starts a little fuss knows he can count on me.
One for four. Four for one: This we guarantee.
We got a right to pick a little fight: Bonanza!
If anyone fights anyone of us he’s gotta fight with me!
I’ve got the sheet music of the Bonanza theme around here somewhere, and those are the lyrics used.