Limestone, Tennessee

The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes

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Raised in the woods
So's he knew every tree
Killed him a bear
When he was only three Read full Lyrics
Promotion is the name of the game. And when the Disney empire gets behind something, it almost always wins. "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" was linked with both a movie and a TV series, and Disney had huge success with the song, film, and TV series.

Merchandise often goes with a promotion, as can be seen with the ubiquitous Harry Potter paraphernalia. Back in 1954, there was the "Crockett craze" and the marketing moguls concentrated on Crockett's well-known coonskin hat. Young boys in the USA and UK were seen sporting this trendy headgear.

A replica of Davy Crockett's birth cabin at Davy Crockett State Park in Tennessee<br>Photo: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Davy-crockett-birth-cabin1.jpg">Brian Stansberry</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0">CC BY 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia CommonsA replica of Davy Crockett's birth cabin at Davy Crockett State Park in Tennessee
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There were a number of recordings of "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." Bill Hayes, Fess Parker – the actor who portrayed Davy Crockett and later Daniel Boone – and Tennessee Ernie Ford all released versions in the same year: 1955. Amazingly, all three versions did really well on the Billboard Charts, with the Hayes version being the most successful. More than 10 million copies of the song were sold.

There have been some interesting versions of the song. The Supremes recorded it, but their version was not released. Tim Curry brought out a version a la his Rocky Horror Picture Show persona, and The Kentucky Headhunters included it on their 1991 album and later as a single.

Finding a place to visit which is related to Davy Crockett is very easy. Where would you like to start?

He was born in Tennessee, but just where is in dispute. A replica cabin has been erected in Limestone, Tennessee, in the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park, although some historians plump for other locations for his birthplace, with someone even making a case for a location in North Carolina. So the song lyrics about that Tennessee mountaintop may not be strictly accurate.

In fact, so much about Crockett and his life are debated - where he was born, the use of his name and his death at The Battle of the Alamo in Texas - have all stimulated much discussion, and still do.

Inscribed stone at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park in Tennessee<br>Photo: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Davy-crockett-birthplace-marker1.jpg">Brian Stansberry</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0">CC BY 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia CommonsInscribed stone at Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park in Tennessee
Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Crockett preferred to be called David. He served as a politician representing Tennessee in the House of Representatives, and controversy surrounded the manner of his death at the Alamo. The setting for this battle is today a state shrine and well worth a visit in San Antonio, Texas. The Alamo was once a Catholic mission but is today a museum.

In 1836 a battle between Texans and the Mexican army took place over several days. The end result was that some 250 Texans died and about twice as many Mexicans. The Texans were defeated and one of the Americans who died was the frontiersman, politician and folk hero, David 'Davy' Crockett. Debate continued to follow Crockett even in death, with some saying he surrendered and others claiming he fought to the finish. But there is no doubt this great American was killed in Texas.

There is a much-visited movie set called Alamo Village near Brackettville, Texas. It was first used in the 1965 movie The Alamo, directed by John Wayne. Of course, many parts of Tennessee are associated with Crockett but a major part of the Texas Revolution is also strongly linked to the man who inspired songwriters, authors, and film and television writers.

Cen Fox
May 6, 2009
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