SNOWSHOE THOMPSON
Recorded by Johnny Horton
Writers: B. Graves, P. M. Howard & Buddy Ebsen

In Eighteen Fifty-Five, in old Californ-i-a
A man was a-lookin' in the paper one day
Uncle Sam needs a postman, to carry the mail
Though the High Sierra mountains over God-forsaken trails.

Snowshoe Thompson told them, he swore he was their man
I'll get through them mountains, if anybody can
He took a pair of snowshoes, he took a pair of skis
And lit out through the mountains, where a normal man would freeze.

CHORUS
He was cautious as a mountain cat, fleet as a deer
Tough as a grizzly bear, he knew no fear
He lived a life of danger bringing mountain people news
For Snowshoe Thompson packed the mail on through.

In the High Sierra mountains, it was thirty-two below
The blizzards fairly whistled, bringin' forty feet of snow
No one dared to venture on the slippery mountain trail
But Snowshoe kept a coming, he was packing US Mail.

His face was weather-beaten from his many rugged miles
But he knew it was worth it, when he'd see the people smile
His deeds are not forgotten, listed in the hall of fame
They're changin' old Squaw Valley, to Snowshoe Thompson' name.

CHORUS

SOURCE:
JOHNNY HORTON MAKES HISTORY/COLUMBIA CS-8269