I’ve previously chronicled my love for the TV westerns that were so prevalent in primetime television between 1957 and 1967. Back in that era, most of the TV westerns had original theme songs with lyrics. As that decade wore on, the trend was to simply have theme music at the open and close of each program.
For a kid whose life largely revolved around the latest developments in that season’s lineup of TV westerns, it was pretty important to be able to sing the theme songs to your favorite shows. I was proud to do that, even though I often wasn’t exactly sure about what those words actually were. It was always acceptable to let your voice tail off mid-verse and just jump back into the chorus, which everybody knew.
Here are my favorite 15 theme songs from the TV westerns I loved as a kid:
15. Colt .45 This half-hour series aired from 1957-60, at the beginning of my TV western-viewing period. It was probably my least favorite among the many Warner Brothers western series that were dominating the networks at the time, but I think the song’s kinda funny. The lead character’s name was Christopher Colt, and he was an undercover agent who sold pistols as a cover; hence, the link to the Colt .45 pistol. The song’s as much about the gun as the lead character.
There was a gun that won the west.
There was a man among the best.
The fastest gun or man alive.
A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt… .45.
He carried the message of law and of order,
Into a wicked land.
With a Colt single action Army revolver
Blazing from either hand.
There was the right, there was the wrong.
The gun was quick, the man was strong.
And peace was made when they arrived,
A lightning bolt when the drew that Colt… .45.
Colt .45, Colt .45, Colt .45, Colt .45.
14. Adventures of Jim Bowie Another half-hour show, this series aired for two years when I was only an occasional watcher. Love the knife throw at the start of the program.
Opening Theme:
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
He was a bold adventurin’ man!
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
Battled for right with a powerful hand!
His blade was tempered and so was he!
Indestructable steel was he!
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin’ man!
Closing Theme:
Adventurin’ man, Adventurin’ man.
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
He roamed the wilderness unafraid
From Natchez to Rio Grande!
With all the might of his gleaming blade
He fought for the rights of man!
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
He was a bold adventurin’ man!
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
Battled for right with a powerful hand!
His blade was tempered and so was he!
Indestructable steel was he!
Jim Bowie! Jim Bowie!
He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin’ man!
13. Tales of the Texas Rangers This TV series was derived from an radio series of the same name. It aired on CBS for three seasons and was the first TV western I watched regularly. Each week, I rooted for the show’s two Rangers, Jace and Clay; I remember my dad teasing me for initially thinking the character’s name was “Japes.” (Who can blame me for assuming the guy had a normal first name?)
I assume the program was pretty dull, because I really can’t remember it. What sticks in my mind was how I’d be glued to the TV screen each week to see the show’s opening and closing moments. In the open, the other Texas Rangers, one-by-one, walk into the street to join Jace, starting with his sidekick, Clay. Then, at the end, they’re all walking in the street and march off screen one-by-one. It’s pretty lame by today’s standards, but to a little kid, it was magical. And, the song was put to the tune of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.
12. Bat Masterson Before debonair Gene Barry starred in Burke’s Law, he portrayed the legendary Bat Masterson in this series (1959-61) on NBC. Barry personified “cool” way back then.
Back when the west was very young,
There lived a man named Masterson.
He wore a cane and derby hat,
They called him Bat, Bat Masterson.
The trail that he blazed is still there.
No one has come since, to replace his name.
And those with too ready a trigger,
Forgot to figure on his lighting cane.
Now in the legend of the west,
One name stands out of all the rest.
The man who had the fastest gun,
His name was Bat, Bat Masterson.
11. Cheyenne Running from 1955-1963, this series was the first of Warner Brothers’ string of successful hour-long westerns. I was a regular viewer of this irregularly-scheduled program; it generally ran in alternating weeks with other Warner Brothers productions. Although, it was my favorite of these (Bronco, Sugarfoot), I never thought the theme song was anything special.
Cheyenne. Cheyenne. Where will you be camping tonight?
Lonely man. Cheyenne. Will your heart stay free and light?
Dream, Cheyenne, of the girl you may never love.
Move along, Cheyenne, like the restless clouds up above.
The wind that blows, that comes and goes, has been your only home.
But will the wild wind one day cease, and you’ll no longer roam?
Move along, Cheyenne. The next pastures always so green.
Driftin’ on, Cheyenne, don’t forget the things you have seen.
And when you will settle down, where will it be?
Cheyenne.
Cheyenne!
10. Maverick Another of the Warner Brothers westerns, Maverick (1957-62) ran weekly; the twist with this series is that it alternated lead characters each week between the two starring Maverick brothers, played by James Garner and Jack Kelly. This was a pretty cool theme song, but the lyrics were too complicated for a kid of 10 to remember.
Who is the tall, dark stranger there?
Maverick is the name.
Ridin’ the trail to who knows where,
Luck is his companion,
Gamblin’ is his game.
Smooth as the handle on a gun.
Maverick is the name.
Wild as the wind in Oregon,
Blowin’ up a canyon,
Easier to tame.
Riverboat, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Annabel.
Luck is the lady that he loves the best.
Natchez to New Orleans
Livin on jacks and queens
Maverick is a legend of the west.
Riverboat, ring your bell,
Fare thee well, Annabel.
Luck is the lady that he loves the best.
Natchez to New Orleans
Livin on jacks and queens
Maverick is a legend of the west.
Maverick is a legend of the west.
9. Branded Chuck Connors is mainly known for his five-year run as The Rifleman (1958-63), but he also starred as disgraced cavalry officer Jason McCord in the single season (1965-66) of Branded. Having been a big fan of The Rifleman, I was hopeful that this would be another great vehicle for Connors; not-so-good. The show’s open basically told you everything you needed to know about this series. It took storytelling in a theme song to a whole new level. Nonetheless, I walked around singing this song constantly, although we sometimes changed the words for a “humorous” alternate version.
8. Texas John Slaughter This series ran between 1958 and 1961 as component of the Wonderful World of Disney on ABC. I was a big fan of all the Disney western and adventure series in those days, and they always seemed to have a catchy theme song. This was my favorite among their westerns.
His turned up white Stetson and pearl-handled gun
were known both far and wide.
Oh Texas John Slaughter
Made ‘em do what they oughter,
‘cause if they didn’t, they died.
With Stetson so white and pearl-handled gun
Swingin’ on his side.
Oh Texas John Slaughter
Made ‘em do what they oughter,
‘cause if they didn’t , they died.
In Texas a Ranger he had to become,
And outlaws he defied
Oh Texas John Slaughter
Made ‘em do what they oughter,
‘cause if they didn’t , they died.
The Rangers badge he wore right well
Make an outlaw go and hide.
Oh Texas John Slaughter
Made ‘em do what they oughter,
‘cause if they didn’t , they died.
(This YouTube clip is of an entire episode; it was the only one available with the full song.)
7. The Lawman Another of the Warner Brothers westerns, The Lawman was a 30-minute program that ran between 1958 and 1962, starring John Russell (Pale Rider) and Peter Brown. This theme song was another one we eventually started singing with alternate lyrics, but it was a good one.
Lawman. Lawman.
The Lawman came with the sun.
There was a job to be done.
And so they sent for the badge and the gun
Of the Lawman.
And as he silently rode,
Where evil violently flowed
They knew he’d live or he’d die by the code
Of the Lawman.
The man who rides all alone
And all that he’ll ever own,
Is just a badge and a gun and he’s known
As the Lawman.
6. Have Gun – Will Travel Richard Boone played Paladin, a gun for hire, in this long-running 30-minute series. This theme song was short, but sweet.
Have Gun Will Travel reads the card of a man.
A knight without armor in a savage land.
His fast gun for hire heed’s the calling wind.
A soldier of fortune is the man called Paladin.
Paladin, Paladin
Where do you roam?
Paladin, Paladin,
Far, far from home
5. The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Running from 1955-1961, this series was based on the life of the real Marshall Wyatt Earp, and it was sort of like a serial western as the characters evolved from one week to the next. Hugh O’Brian played the famous lawman. This ballad sounds today like it might be somebody’s drinking song.
I’ll tell you a story a real true life story
A tale of the Western frontier.
The West, it was lawless,
but one man was flawless
and his is the story you’ll hear.
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.
When he came to Kansas
To settle in Kansas
He planned on a peaceable life
Some goods and some chattel
A few head of cattle, a home and
a sweet loving wife.
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.
Now he wasn’t partial to being a marshal
When fate went and dealt him his hand
The outlaws were lootin, a killin, and shootin
He knew he must take a stand
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.
Well he cleaned up the country
The old wild west country
He made law and order prevail.
And none can deny it
The legend of Wyatt
Forever will live on the trail.
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.
4. The Rebel Johnny Yuma (Nick Adams) was The Rebel from 1959-1961 on ABC with The Lawman as a lead-in program. Adams was the only recurring cast member as he “wandered alone” from town to town each week, doing good and righting wrongs. The show’s theme song, sung by Johnny Cash, was better, in my opinion, than the show itself.
Away, away, away rode the rebel, Johnny Yuma.
Johnny Yuma, was a rebel,
He roamed, through the west.
And Johnny Yuma, was a rebel,
He wandered alone.
He got fightin’ mad,
This rebel lad,
He packed no star as he wandered far
And the only law was a hook and a draw, the rebel.
(Away, away, away rode the rebel.)
Johnny Yuma, was a rebel,
He roamed, through the west.
And Johnny Yuma, was a rebel,
He wandered alone.
He searched the land,
This restless lad,
He was panther quick and leather tough
Figured that he’d been pushed enough, the rebel.
(Away, away, away rode the rebel.)
Johnny Yuma.
Johnny Yuma, was a rebel,
He roamed, through the west.
And Johnny Yuma, the rebel,
He wandered alone.
He was fightin’ mad,
This rebel lad,
With a dream he would hold until his dying breath
He would search his soul and gamble with death.
Away, away, away rode the rebel, Johnny Yuma.
3. Rawhide If I had to objectively vote on “the best” theme song to a TV western, I’d pick this one. I put it at #3 on my list, though, because it was too hard to sing for a kid like me. No doubt, though, it’s a classic as sung by Frankie Laine.
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Keep movin’, movin’, movin’
Though they’re disapprovin’
Keep them dogies* movin’
Rawhide!
Don’t try to understand ’em
Just rope and throw and brand ’em
Soon we’ll be living high and wide.
My heart’s calculatin’
My true love will be waitin’
Be waiting at the end of my ride.
Move ’em on, head ’em up
Head ’em up, move ’em on
Move ’em on, head ’em up
Rawhide!
Cut ’em out, ride ’em in
Ride ’em in, let ’em out
Cut ’em out, ride ’em in
Rawhide!
Rawhide!
2. Sugarfoot My top two are kind of a coin flip for me. Sugarfoot was one of the 60-minute Warner Brothers westerns that ran on ABC in alternating weeks between 1957 and 1960. Will Hutchins was great as the somewhat comical cowpoke who was studying the law via a correspondence course. I loved this series, and this is one of those songs a young kid like me could walk around singing to himself.
Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot, easy lopin’, cattle ropin’ Sugarfoot,
Carefree as the tumbleweeds, ajoggin’ along with a heart full of song
And a rifle and a volume of the law.
Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot, never underestimate a Sugarfoot,
Once you got his dander up, ain’t no one who’s quicker on the draw.
You’ll find him on the side of law and order,
From the Mexicali border, to the rolling hills of Arkansas
Sugarfoot, Sugarfoot, easy lopin’, cattle ropin’ Sugarfoot,
Ridin’ down to cattle town, a-joggin’ a-long with a heart full of song
And a rifle and a volume of the law.
1. Bronco This series was the third of Warner Brothers’ westerns to air in alternating weeks, and it originally came about when Cheyenne’s Clint Walker held out for more money. Its run lasted from 1958 to 1962. Ty Hardin played Bronco Layne, an ex-Confederate army captain who was a bit of a horse whisperer; or maybe he just “busted” broncs. At any rate, I liked this show, and loved the catchy theme song.
Bronco, Bronco, tearin’ across the Texas plain.
Bronco, Bronco, Bronco Layne.
Born down around the old panhandle,
Texas is where he grew to fame.
There ain’t a horse that he can’t handle,
that’s how he got his name.
Bronco, Bronco, tearin’ across the Texas plain.
Bronco, Bronco, Bronco Layne.
Next to a four square Texas twister,
You’d call a cyclone meek and mild,
You’ve never seen a twister, mister,
Till someone gets him riled.
Bronco, Bronco, tearin’ across the Texas plain.
Bronco, Bronco, Bronco Layne.
Show me a gal who kissed him once,
And I’ll show you a gal who’s kissed him twice.
Once a city gal has kissed him twice,
She’s dreamin’ of shoes and rice.
Bronco, Bronco, tearin’ across the Texas plain.
Bronco, Bronco, Bronco Layne.
Listing Slightly to the Left 