bacharach • hilliard
The popular music composer Burt Bacharach is no longer a living legend; he died 8th of February 2023 at the age of 94, and I'm sorry. No more inventive works coming up with his signature: unusual rythm patterns and unusual combinations of chords and harmonies, in order to light up everybody's life. He composed hundreds of songs for several purposes, and I've enjoyed all that I've heard. But I've never played any of them myself; only whispered and hummed for delight. Then, after his passing, I read his biography and discovered that his first registered composition (ASCAP) in fact was a western tune [!] which has been stuck in my brain for almost fifty years.
I came upon the album "The New Christy Minstrels Sing and Play Cowboys and Indians" 10 years after it's release (1965). The front cover was remarkably silly, and I thought that this must be some holy crap. It wasn't: it's one of the best albums I've ever had. That folk singer group was simply fabulous ... and this song was outstanding, by it's parodic attitude and bright sound (lead vocal by Barry McQuire; fronting the group at that time).
Who was first to catch the idea of writing this? Probably not Bacharach; he was a dedicated composer. Bob Hilliard (1918-1971, nee Hilliard Goldsmith), a professional lyricist, tapped down the words. Dick van Dyke was the first one to record it, in 1961 (Jamie Records), as a single, most probably as a stunt from his popular TV series around 1960. I've never heard it, and I never will.
The record fades out with the indians and the pioneers dancing and singing together. That's Disney. I cut it all short at «pioneers they never say ¤». That's Sergio Leone.
three wheels on my wagon
and I'm still rolling along
the cherokees are chasing me
arrows fly right on by
but I'm singing a happy song:
I'm singing a «higgity haggity hoggety» high
pioneers they never say «die»
a mile up the road there's a hidden cave
and we can watch those cherokees go galloping by
[«George, they're catching up to us!»
- «get back in the wagon woman!»]
two wheels on my wagon
and I'm still rolling along
them cherokees are after me
flaming spears burn my ears
but I'm singing a happy song:
I'm singing a «higgity haggity hoggety» high
pioneers they never say «die»
half a mile up the road there's a hidden cave
and we can watch those cherokees go galloping by
[«Duh Paw? Are you sure this is the right road?»
-«Will you hush up? You and your maps!»]
one wheel on my wagon
and I'm still rolling along
them cherokees are after me
I'm all in flames at the reins
but I'm singing a happy song:
I'm singing a «higgity haggity hoggety» high
pioneers they never say «die»
right around that turn there's a hidden cave
and we can watch those cherokees go galloping by
[«George? Should I get the bag of beads and trinkets?»
-«Woman, I know what I'm doing!»]
no wheels on my wagon
so I'm not rolling along
the cherokees captured me
they look mad : things look bad
but I'm singing a happy song:
[«C'mon all you Cherokees, sing along with me!»]
::/::«higgity haggity hoggety high!»
pioneers they never say «die»::/::
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A E7 F#m ... A7 three wheels on my wagon Bm Bm/A E ... E7 and I'm still rolling along A F#m D E the cherokees are chasing me D E D E7 arrows fly right on by A Cm# D A ...A7 but I'm singing a happy song: D A I'm singing a higgity haggity hoggety high E E7 A A7 pioneers they never say die D A F#m a mile up the road there's a hidden cave Bm C#m E E7 A and we can watch those cherokees go galloping by
