Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and the father in "Old Yeller" has passed away. We knew him best as Davy Crockett in the vintage Disney series, which is reputed to be the first miniseries in the history of television.
In honor of Mr. Parker, here's "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"
Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
Greenest state in the Land of the Free
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the wild frontier!
In eighteen thirteen 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' for fightin' and rightin' a wrong
He's ringy as a b'ar and twice as strong.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The buckskin buccaneer!
Andy Jackson is our general'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' and 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
And while he was handlin' this risky chore
Made hisself a legend for evermore.
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the wild frontier!
He give his word and he give his hand
That his Injun friends could keep their land
And 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 and the pea.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Holdin' his young 'uns dear!
But the ice went out and the warm winds came
And the meltin' snow showed tracks of game
And the flowers of Spring filled the woods with flame
And 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 and singin' a song
He's ringy as a b'ar and twice as strong
And 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 and the grass is green
Where the fish is fat in an untouched stream
And the teamin' woods is a hunter's dream.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Lookin' fer Paradise!
Now he'd lost his love an his grief was gall
In his heart he wanted to leave it all
And 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 and a thinkin' mind.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The man who don't know fear!
The votes were counted and 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' reknown.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The Canebrake Congressman!
He went off to Congress and served a spell
Fixin' up the Gover'ment and laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so we heared tell
And patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Seein' his duty clear!
Him and his jokes travelled all through the land
And his speeches made him friends to beat the band
His politickin' was their favorite brand
And 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 and fame as well
But he spoke out strong so hist'ry books tell
And patched up the crack In the liberty Bell.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Seein' his duty clear!
When he come home his politickin' done
The western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
And lit out grinnin' to follow the sun.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Leadin' the pioneer!
He heard of Houston and Austin and so
To the Texas plains he jest had to go
Where freedom was fightin' another foe
And they needed him at the Alamo.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The man who don't know fear!
His land is biggest and 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!
Greenest state in the Land of the Free
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the wild frontier!
In eighteen thirteen 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' for fightin' and rightin' a wrong
He's ringy as a b'ar and twice as strong.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The buckskin buccaneer!
Andy Jackson is our general'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' and 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
And while he was handlin' this risky chore
Made hisself a legend for evermore.
Davy, Davy Crockett, King of the wild frontier!
He give his word and he give his hand
That his Injun friends could keep their land
And 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 and the pea.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Holdin' his young 'uns dear!
But the ice went out and the warm winds came
And the meltin' snow showed tracks of game
And the flowers of Spring filled the woods with flame
And 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 and singin' a song
He's ringy as a b'ar and twice as strong
And 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 and the grass is green
Where the fish is fat in an untouched stream
And the teamin' woods is a hunter's dream.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Lookin' fer Paradise!
Now he'd lost his love an his grief was gall
In his heart he wanted to leave it all
And 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 and a thinkin' mind.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The man who don't know fear!
The votes were counted and 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' reknown.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The Canebrake Congressman!
He went off to Congress and served a spell
Fixin' up the Gover'ment and laws as well
Took over Washin'ton so we heared tell
And patched up the crack in the Liberty Bell.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Seein' his duty clear!
Him and his jokes travelled all through the land
And his speeches made him friends to beat the band
His politickin' was their favorite brand
And 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 and fame as well
But he spoke out strong so hist'ry books tell
And patched up the crack In the liberty Bell.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Seein' his duty clear!
When he come home his politickin' done
The western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
And lit out grinnin' to follow the sun.
Davy, Davy Crockett, Leadin' the pioneer!
He heard of Houston and Austin and so
To the Texas plains he jest had to go
Where freedom was fightin' another foe
And they needed him at the Alamo.
Davy, Davy Crockett, The man who don't know fear!
His land is biggest and 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!
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