Col. David 'Davy' Crockett and The Ballad Of Davy Crockett Song/Melody with Ballad Of The Alamo also Farewell To The Mountains and Zip Coon, Pompey Smash

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Fame is like a shaved pig with a greased tail and it is only after it has slipped through the hands of some thousands, that some fellow by mere chance, holds on to it! ...Davy Crockett...

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Col. David 'Davy' Crockett Picture...*[2]*[3]*[4]*

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Col. David Crockett (August 17, 1786–March 6, 1836) is an American hero usually referred to now as "Davy Crockett." He was born in Greene County, Tennessee. In 1813 he served under General (later President) Andrew Jackson in the campaign against the Creek Indians. The people of the United States at the time simply refered to Andrew Jackson as 'The Hero'.

Here is the account of why Davy decided to join the fight against the Indians:_After Crockett heard of an Indian attack and massacre by the Indians, he determined to join the volunteers in order to fight what were called the Creek Indian Wars. Crockett's words:_"For, when I heard of the mischief which was done at the fort, I instantly felt like going, and I had none of the dread of dying that I expected to feel."
His wife did not want him to go, as she had no relations near and having recently settled in the area with Davy, she had as yet few friends. Crockett's words:_"I reasoned the case with her as well as I could, and told her that if every man would wait till his wife got willing for him to go to war, there would be no fighting done, until we would all be killed in our own houses...The truth is, my dander was up, and nothing but war could bring it right again." Davy's way of seeing it, as he related, was that his countrymen had been murdered and he aimed to set it right. It is an actual fact that in his day he was regarded as 'The King of the Wild Frontier".

Crockett was a hard-headed man, but so was Andrew Jackson.(Jackson had a slight build but was real hard and wiry) Both were bona-fide frontiersmen and were of a tough Scot-Irish descent. Davy had trouble with Jackson later, but the trouble started early during the Creek Indian Wars.   After he and the other voluteers had fought for a while under Jackson their enlistments were up and they wanted to go home with many of them intending to re-outfit and return.The only problem was Jackson told them he would kill any man that left. Crockett's words:_"The General refused to let us go. We were, however, determined to go. With this, the General issued his orders against it. We began to fix for a start. The General went and placed his cannon on a bridge we had to cross, and ordered out his regulars and drafted men to prevent our crossing. But when the militia started to guard the bridge, they would holler back to us to bring their knapsacks along when we came; for they wanted to go as bad as we did. We got ready, and moved on till we came near the bridge, where the General's men were all strung along on both sides. But we all had our flints ready picked and our guns ready primed, that, if we were fired on, we might fight our way through, or all die together. When we came still nearer the bridge we heard the guards cocking their guns, and we did the same. But we marched boldly on, and not a gun was fired, nor a life lost. When we had passed, no further attempt was made to stop us. We went on, and near Huntsville we met a reinforcement who were going on to join the army. It consisted of a regiment of sixty-day volunteers. We got home pretty safely, and in a short time we had procured fresh horses, and a supply of clothing better suited for the season."

Crockett was elected to Congress in 1828(as Crockett put it, his practice was to never "seek nor decline office") and he was very popular in Washington and the entire country, not only for his association with Jackson but also in his own right. His frontier dress and manner of speaking were considered somewhat unusual but his sense of humor, speechmaking skills and well acknowledged bravery caused him to be widely accepted and admired. He supported the rights of squatters who were barred from buying land in the West without already owning property. Also Crockett opposed President Jackson's Indian Removal Act. Because of his opposition to "King Andrew the First", he was defeated when he ran for re-election in 1831 but won when he ran again in 1833. He was always refered to as Col. Crockett and only later after his death given the name 'Davy', guess people just wanted to feel closer to him.

In 1835 he was defeated for re-election and said, "You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas." He did just that and joined the Texas Rebellion. As he told one friend, he wanted to "go where the bullets fly".

He took part in the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 - March 6, 1836) and for many years was believed to have gone down fighting there. Unsubstantiated evidence has been discovered that makes it at least possible Crockett was one of a half dozen men taken prisoner in that battle and executed by General (later President of Mexico) Antonio López de Santa Anna. The account relates that there was no shame, as the prisoners requested no mercy.

[NOTE:..i am no historian but i read an eyewitness account, by 'Joe', who was William Barret Travis's servant and the only male to survive the battle---it said Crockett was found dead with three Tennessee Vols and around them were twenty four dead enemy.][Also from what i have read, Davy had faced death fearlessly on many occasions, i see no reason that this time would have  been any different.]

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Davy Crockett quotes

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"Although our great man at the head of the nation has changed his course,
I will not change mine.

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Be always sure you're right, then go ahead.

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Heaven knows that I have done all that a mortal could do to save the people,
and the failure was not my fault, but the fault of others.

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I would rather be beaten and be a man than to be elected and be a little puppy dog.

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Let your tongue speak what your heart thinks.

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Look at my arms, you will find no party hand-cuff on them.

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Throughout the day no time for memorandums now. Go ahead! Liberty
and independence forever.

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We have the right as individuals to give away as much of our own money as
we please in charity; but as members of Congress we have no right to appropriate
a dollar of the public money.

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The enemy fought with savage fury and met death with all its horrors, without
shrinking or complaining- not one asked to be spared, but fought
as long as they could stand or sit.

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It was expected of me that I was to bow to the name of Andrew Jackson, even
at the expense of my conscience and judgement. Such a thing was new to me
and a total stranger to my principles.

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I have suffered myself to be politically sacrificed to save my country from ruin
and disgrace. If I am never again elected, I will have the gratification
to know that I have done my duty.

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I have acted fearless and independent and I never will regret my course.
I would rather be politically buried that to be hypocritically immortalized."

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By 1830 or so Davy was getting to be a national legend. So much so that he became the topic in some songs performed at minstrel shows. These shows which featured white performers in 'black face' were the main form of popular entertainment at the time.

Zip Coon was written in the 1820's.....and the following verse featuring Davy was added to the song lyrics in about 1833...

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Zip Coon Melody

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That tarnal critter Crockett, he never say his prayers,
He kill all de wild Cats, de Coons and de bears,
And den he go to Washington to make de laws,
And dere he find de Congress men sucking deir paws.

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The following was written entirely about Davy Crockett

POMPEY SMASH(1834).....The Everlastin' and Unkonkerable Skreamer

Now I'll tell you 'bout a fight I had wid Davy Crockett
Dat haff hoss, haff kune, an haff sky rocket,
I met him one day as I go out a gunnin,
I ax him whar he guine, an he say he guine a kunein,
Den I ax him whar he gun, and he say he got nun,
Den I say, Davy, how you guine to hunt widout one.

Den says he, Pompey Smash, just come along ob Davy
An I'll dam soon show you how to grin a koon crazy
Well, I follow on arter, till Davy seed a squirrel,
Settin on a pine log, eatin sheep sorrel,
Den he stop rite still, and he gin for me to feel,
Says he, Pompey Smash, let me brace agin your heel.

I stuck out my heel, an I brace up de sinner,
An den Davy gun to grin hard for his dinner,
But de critter didn't move -- nor didn't seem to mine him,
But seem to keep a eatin, and neber look behine him.
At lass, Davy sed, he ralely must be dead,
For I seed de bark fly all 'bout de kritter's head.

Den we boph started up, de truth to diskiver,
An may de debil roast ole Pompei Smash's liber,
If it wa'nt a great not, 'bout as big as a punkin,
Saz I, kurnel Davy, does you call dis skunkin.
Heah! Heah! Heah!!!
Den sez he, you black kaff, now I tell you doan laff,
If you do I'll pin your ears back, an bite you in haff.

I throde down my gun, an I drop my amynishin,
Sez I, kurnel Davy, I'll cool you ambishun,
He back both his years, an puff like a steamer,
Sez he, Pompey Smash, I'm a Tennessee skreemer,
Den we boph lock horn, an I tink my breph gone,
I was neber hug so close, since de day I was born.

We fought haff a day, an den we greed to stop it,
For I was badly whipt, an so was Davy Crockett,
When we look for our heds, gosh, we found 'em boph missen,
For he'd bit off mine, an' I'd swallow'd hissen.
Den boph did agree for to leff de oder be,
For I was rather hard for him, an so was he for me.

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THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT: HIS EARLY LIFE,
HUNTING ADVENTURES, SERVICES UNDER
GENERAL JACKSON IN THE CREEK WAR, ELECTIONEERING
SPEECHES, CAREER IN CONGRESS, TRIUMPHAL TOUR IN THE
NORTHERN STATES, AND SERVICES IN THE TEXAN WAR

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***The Ballad of Davy Crockett***

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Music by George Bruns
Lyrics by Tom Blackburn

The song sold 7,000,000 units in six months(1954)

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The Ballad Of Davy Crockett Melody

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The Ballad of Davy Crockett

         Song lyrics

Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
greenest state in the land of the free
raised in the woods so he knew ev'ry 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' fer fightin' an' rightin' a wrong
he's ringy as a b'ar an' twict 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 for evermore
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' 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 politickin' 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!

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Davy Crockett reportedly was very musical and
a pretty decent fiddle player.

Farewell To The Mountains
By David Crockett

Farewell to the mountains whose mazes to me
Were more beautiful far than Eden could be;
No fruit was forbidden, but Nature had spread
Her bountiful board, and her children were fed.
The hills were our garners -- our herds wildly grew,
And Nature was shepherd and husbandman too.
I felt like a monarch, yet thought like a man,
As I thank'd the Great Giver, and worshipped his plan.

The home I forsake where my offspring arose:
The graves I forsake where my children repose,
The home I redeem'd from the savage and wild;
The home I have loved as a father his child;
The corn that I planted, the fields that I cleared,
The flocks that I raised and the cabin I rear'd;
The wife of my bosom -- Farewell to ye all!
In the land of the stranger I rise -- or I fall.

Farewell to my country! --I fought for thee well,
When the savage rushed forth like the demons from hell.
In peace or in war I have stood by thy side--
My country for thee I have lived -- would have died!
But I am cast off --My career now is run,
And I wander abroad like the prodigal son--
Where the wild savage roves, and the broad praries spread,
The fallen despised -- will again go ahead!

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THE BALLAD OF THE ALAMO(movie score)
By Dimitri Tiomkin and P. F. Webster... Recorded by Marty Robbins

When asked why a Russian composer should be able to so easily depict the Wild West, Tiomkin said that to him and his music, there was little difference between the Steppes of Russia and the Prairies of the American West. Tiomkin received two Oscar nominations for his work.

To play song clip...Right click link>Copy Shortcut>in u r Windows Media Player>select File in the WMP header>select Open Url>Paste>Hit OK...

Left click on link for album info...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/clipserve/B000002AN4001002/0/102-3032144-1052144

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THE BALLAD OF THE ALAMO

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In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone
There's a fortress all in ruins that the weeds have overgrown
You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a one
But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun ...
You can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marching by
You can hear them as they answer to that roll call in the sky
Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and a hundred eighty more
Captain Dickenson, Jim Bowie present and accounted for;

Back in eighteen thirty-six - Houston said to Travis
"Get some volunteers and go - fortify the Alamo"
Well, the men came from Texas and from old Tennessee
And they joined up with Travis - just to fight for the right to be free ...
Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle loaders
Stood together heel and toe to defend the Alamo
"You may ne'er see your loved ones" Travis told them that day
"Those that want to can leave now, those that fight to the death let 'em stay."

In the sand he drew a line with his Army sabre
Out of a hundred eighty five not a soldier crossed the line
With his banners a-dancin' in the dawn's golden light
Santa Anna came prancin' on a horse that was black as the night ...
Sent an officer to tell - Travis to surrender
Travis answered with a shout and a rousin' rebel yell
Santa Anna turned scarlet, "Play [*Deguello]", he roared
"I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword";

One hundred and eighty five holdin' back five thousand
Five days, six days, eight days - ten; Travis held and held again
Then he sent for replacements for his wounded and lame
But the troops that were comin' never came, never came, never came ...
Twice he charged them to recall - on the fatal third time
Santa Anna breached the wall and he killed them one and all
Now the bugles are silent and there's rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers ... lie asleep in the arms of the Lord ...

In the southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone
Like a statue on his Pinto rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazin' where a century before
Santa Anna's guns were blazin' and the cannons used to roar
And his eyes turn sorta misty and his heart begins to glow
And he takes his hat off slowly - to the Men of Alamo
To the thirteen days of glory at the seige of Alamo.

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here is a link***Remember The Alamo

to read about another American Hero here is a link to...Paul Revere's Story...Longfellow

speaking of American Heroes...check these dudes out!!!....US Navy Blue Angels Flight Team

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