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.
Tumbling Tumble Weeds
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pledging their love to the ground!
Lonely, but free, I'll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
Cares of the past are behind
Nowhere to go, but I'll find
Just where the trail will wind
I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at dawn!
I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
I know when night has gone
That a new world's born at dawn!
I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
The lyrics of "Tumbling Tumble Weeds" symbolize a journey of self-discovery and freedom. The first verse can be seen as a metaphor for life, with the tumbleweeds representing people who have fallen down or experienced hardships but have ultimately remained true to themselves. The singer compares themself to a tumbleweed, stating that they are "lonely, but free" and will continue to drift along, making their own path in life, regardless of where it may lead them or how difficult it may be.
The second verse touches on the idea of leaving the past behind and focusing on the present. The singer has no specific destination in mind, but they are confident that they will eventually find their way, no matter where the trail may wind. This idea of letting one's journey unfold naturally, without worrying about the destination, reinforces the theme of freedom and self-discovery.
The final verse speaks to the idea that every ending leads to a new beginning. The singer sees the sunrise as a symbol of renewal, and they are committed to continue rolling along with the tumbleweeds, driven by the song of their heart. The line "here on the range I belong" suggests a sense of belonging to the bigger picture of life, while still maintaining their individuality and freedom to choose their own path.
Line by Line Meaning
See them tumbling down
I can see the tumbleweeds rolling down with the wind
Pledging their love to the ground!
The tumbleweeds seem to be showing their allegiance to the earth by rolling along with it.
Lonely, but free, I'll be found
Even though I am lonely, I am free to indulge in my carefree existence of roaming around without any inhibitions.
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
I am being carried away by the flow created by the moving tumbleweeds
Cares of the past are behind
All the worries and troubles of my past have been left far behind.
Nowhere to go, but I'll find
Even though I may not know where I am headed, I will keep moving forward.
Just where the trail will wind
The path that I must follow is an uncertain one which could go in any direction.
I know when night has gone
Once the darkness of the night dissipates, I will be able to see the world anew.
That a new world's born at dawn!
With the arrival of a new day, comes the hope of new opportunities and new beginnings.
I'll keep rolling along
I will continue to move forward without any hesitation.
Deep in my heart is a song
I am at peace and content in my heart, and it is reflected in the harmony of my thoughts.
Here on the range I belong
I feel that my true home is in the vast expanse of the open range.
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
I am lost in my own thoughts, swaying along with the motion of the rolling tumbleweeds.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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)