The Sons of the Pioneers did several songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master (in 1949) and Rio Grande in (1950).
The six members who made the Sons of the Pioneers famous in the late 1930s with their close-harmonied western style music were elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1995, they were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In 1977, the Smithsonian designated the Sons of the Pioneers as "national treasures". Through many changes to the line-up, the Sons of the Pioneers have continued to perform.
The Oregon Trail
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rollin′ onward through the storm and gale
Toward the land of dreams trudge the old ox teams
Down the Oregon trail
Through the night, the Lord is in the saddle
Ridin' herd beneath the moon so pale
Watchin' o′er each stray, ′til the break of day
There'll be apples on each branch in Oregon
There′ll be valleys filled with golden grain
There'll be cattle on each ranch in Oregon
For there′ll be plenty of sun and rain
Hurry up, old pioneer, keep movin'
Your faithful little band must never fail
′Cross the Great Divide, side-by-side we'll ride
Down the Oregon trail
Hurry up, old pioneer, keep movin'
Your faithful little band must never fail
′Cross the Great Divide, side-by-side we′ll ride
Down the Oregon trail
Down the Oregon trail
The Sons of the Pioneers’ The Oregon Trail is a song that describes the journey of the pioneers as they move towards the land of dreams in Oregon. The song’s opening sequence highlights the treacherousness of the journey, as the wagon train winds its way across the prairie, and continues to roll onward despite the storm and gusty winds. The old ox teams that trudge along towards Oregon are on a mission to achieve their goals despite the difficulties they face along the way. The journey itself is risky, but the pioneers are determined to reach the land of dreams, symbolized by their tenacity on this journey.
The song then shifts to describe the pioneers' religious beliefs, highlighting the role of the lord in their journey. The pioneers believe that the lord is in the saddle riding herd beneath the moon to keep them safe. The lord keeps watch over each stray, ensuring that they are kept safe until the break of the day, reflecting their strong faith in God. The lyrics of this section also suggest that the pioneers were not just motivated by their material desires but also by a religious calling to settle in the new land.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of perseverance on this journey, urging the pioneers to continuously move forward, threatening them with failure if they do not persevere. It is also an ode to the pioneer spirit of collaboration, where they keep moving together through the Great Divide side-by-side, making sure that their faithful little band never fails. The song ends on a positive note, with the pioneers riding down the Oregon trail, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Wagon train a-windin' 'cross the prairie
A group of covered wagons are making their way across the grassy prairie
Rollin' onward through the storm and gale
Despite any weather conditions, the wagon train is persisting on their journey
Toward the land of dreams trudge the old ox teams
The wagon train is headed towards a land they envision as ideal and prosperous, with oxen slowly pulling them there
Through the night, the Lord is in the saddle
God is overseeing and protecting the wagon train, even during the darkness of nighttime
Ridin' herd beneath the moon so pale
God is keeping watch over the cattle and the wagon train in the moonlight
Watchin' o'er each stray, 'til the break of day
The Lord is making sure no people or livestock get lost along the way until morning
There'll be apples on each branch in Oregon
Oregon is promised to be a prosperous place with bountiful fruit trees
There'll be valleys filled with golden grain
Oregon is promised to have fertile valleys with abundant crops
There'll be cattle on each ranch in Oregon
Oregon is expected to have many farms with livestock
For there'll be plenty of sun and rain
Oregon's climate is ideal for farming with ample sunshine and precipitation
Hurry up, old pioneer, keep movin'
The wagon train must move quickly and persistently to reach their destination
Your faithful little band must never fail
The group must remain dependable and committed to completing their journey
'Cross the Great Divide, side-by-side we'll ride
The group will face challenges, but they will face them together as they cross the Continental Divide
Down the Oregon trail
The wagon train is headed towards the land of Oregon
Writer(s): Woody Guthrie
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bill Akins
on The Devil's Great Grandson
"The Devil's Great Grandson" (Lyrics)
Recorded by Roy Rogers & The Son's Of The Pioneers
(Lyrics submitted by Bill Akins)
(The Devil's Great Grandson performed by the Sons Of The Pioneers and written by Bob Nolan. The tune was recorded in Los Angeles on December 14, 1937 and the group at that time was Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and the Farr brothers.)
Old Skyball Paint was the devil's saint
His eyes were a fiery red
Good men have tried this horse to ride
And all of them are dead
Now I won't brag but I rode this nag
Till his blood began to boil
Then I hit the ground and ate three pound
Of good old western soil
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Light group harmony yodel)
I swore by heck
I'd break his neck for the jolt he gave my pride
I threw my noose on that old cayuse and once more took a ride
He turned around and soon
I found his tail where his head should be
So says says I Perhaps he's shy or he just don't care for me
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)
In town you see just to have a spree when
I meets old Sheriff Jim
With fistic fun and my big six-gun
I buys the town from him
For a whoop and a holler and a counterfeit dollar
Then I ask for a bill of sale
But my face turned red when the contract said just thirty days in jail
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Light group harmony yodel again)
Where the greasewood bats wear
Stetson hats and the bad men all run free
Where they sold the jail at a bargain sale
That's the land for me
Where the desert ants wear buckskin pants and help me rule the land
With the ants and the bats and my two gats
I'll rule with an iron hand
Singin' Hi-ho lad don't you make me mad
I'm the devil's great grandson
And I'm doin' my best to tame the west
With my great big forty-four gun
(Only Roy Rogers STRONG yodeling, group harmony humming and ahhing along)