"Bonanza" Theme Song

Words & Music:

Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

 

Yes, the original theme song had Lorne Greene singing it.  Find a recording, if you can!

 

Johnny Cash cover version:

    D

The plain we hold is as good as gold, Bonanza.

A                                               D

Hand in hand, we built this land, the Ponderosa Ranch.

    G

Our birthright is this Cartwright Bonanza,

   D                                D7                G

We here belong and stand in strong, wrong ain't got a chance.

 

CHORUS:

D           G             D             A

Day by day, work or play, ready side by side.

D               G                D            A

Hello, friend!  Come on in!  The gate is open wide!

D

Bound to be a-fightin' free, Bonanza,

A                                        A7        D

Swinging pines of boundary lines for the Ponderosa Ranch.

 

INSTRUMENTAL VERSE & CHORUS:

 

Every tree and flower is part of our Bonanza,

the stars at night, the morning light, water in the dregs.

We ride along, four man strong, together,

every plain and ridge is our heritage, the Ponderosa Ranch.

 

CHORUS:  [then out on D  A  A7  D vamp]

 

 

Lorne Greene version lyrics:

We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck Bonanza.

With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, we planted our family tree.

We got a hold of a pot full of gold, Bonanza
With a horse and a saddle, and a ring full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name,
Fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim.
Here in the west, we're livin' in the best Bonanza
If anyone fights any one of us, he's got a fight with me

Bonanza
Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine,
No one works fights, or eats, like those boys of mine
Here we stand in the middle of a grand Bonanza
With a gun and a rope and a hatful of hope, we planted our family tree,
We got a hold of a potful of gold

Bonanza
With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand Cartwright is the name,
Fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim
Here in the west we're living in the best
Bonanza
With the friendliest, fightingist, lovingist band,
That ever set foot in the promised land
And we're happier than them all.
That's why we call it
Bonanza...bonanza.. bonanza..

 

 

 




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