Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,RK, a Denver native
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 10:03 PM

Oh, my goodness... I LOVE this song! And, I'm not sure why, but I get all choked up about the "come across the prairie, and there before your eyes..." part.

Anyway, I've been looking for this song for a while because I want to use it in a grammar lesson on the second conditional form (If I had... I would ...).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 11 - 02:44 PM

The verse with the blank is: I'm looking for more than silver, I'm looking for more than gold, Just like those Rocky Mountains, They've got men who are rugged and bold, Men who are rugged and bold.

And also the end is: There is hating and there's SPITING across the world so wide.

That is how I learned it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,JillD
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 11:11 PM

My father, husband, and daughter are constantly arguing (all in good measure of course) about whose state is the the best Colorado or Texas.
The other day we received a CD in the mail. It was the "If I had a... I would Go to Colorado song"! He had taped it years ago and was able to burn it onto a CD to antagonize my daughter, which he did of course. :) I will try to post it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,Laura
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 12:38 PM

Thanks for the links!


Here's the lyrics as I sang them in 1985, as part of the camping song repertoire we learned at Moore Elementary school in Fort Collins for Poudre R-1 school district's "Eco-Week" held up at CSU's Pingree Park every year for 6th graders. Best memories ever.


If I had a Wagon a.k.a. The Colorado Song*
(*parenthesis = possible variation or addition)


If I had a wagon I would go to Colorado, go to Colorado
If I had a wagon! I would...
If I had a wagon I would go to the state
where a man can walk a mile high.

You come across the prairie, and there (alt: "right") before your eyes
you can see those Rocky Mountain peaks
a' climbing right up to the sky
climbing right up to the sky.

If I had a Chevy I would drive to Colorado, drive to Colorado
If I had a Chevy! I would...
If I had a Chevy I would drive to the state
where a man can walk a mile high.

Well I'm lookin' for more than silver,
I'm lookin' for more than gold.
Just like the Rocky Mountain state's
got folks who are rugged and bold
folks who are rugged and bold.

If I had an airplane I would fly to Colorado, fly to Colorado
If I had an airplane! I would...
If I had an airplane I would fly to the state
where a man can walk a mile high.

Just take a big deep breath of that most abundant air
That is why so many folks (alt: "that's why you'll find so many folks")
from California are there,
(from) California are there.

If I had a spaceship I would land in Colorado, land in Colorado
If I had a spaceship! I would...
If I had a spaceship I would land in the state
where a man can walk a mile high.

There's hating and there's fighting
across this world so wide;
a uniting spirit they will find
at the great continental divide
at the great continental divide.

(Well now) I don't have a wagon and I don't have a Chevy,
and I don't have an airplane and I'll never have a spaceship;
but I've got two feet to climb (alt: "walk") with and it's
Pike's Peak or bust;
where America can learn again, just like Colorado can
how to hold their head up high
where man can walk a mile high.



Best,

L

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,Mistlelou
Date: 23 Feb 12 - 03:41 PM

My comment on Laura's post, from a Homer Peck Elementary student Arvada, CO 1970-1973, where this song was permanently drilled into my head and I can still sing it at age 49.

Your version of the lyrics are *exactly* what we sang using the parentheses alternates with out exception. Back then, our Colorado indoctrination could only compare to what Texas schoolchildren must experience.

Sincerely,
a latent Coloradophile

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 12 - 05:49 PM

it is on both I tunes and Amazon as an mp3 download as are several other Up With People CDs. FINALLY!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,mike
Date: 10 Feb 17 - 09:03 PM

Would love to get guitar tabs. Anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Colorado: 'If I had a wagon, I would ...'
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 11 Feb 17 - 06:46 AM

Checked in the Freedom Isn't Free and other threads. Couldn't find anything substantial on the Colwells so here:

Colwell Brothers

Not mentioned on the Hillbilly site is Paul's marriage to Anthony Quinn's daughter Catalina. They used to live in Seattle and Paul was still touring and working on a gender neutral update of Colorado, up until a few years ago at least.