NRR Project: 'Happy Trails' (1952)

NRR Project: “Happy Trails”

Composed by Dale Evans

Performed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

Released 1952

1:40

This delightful and instantly memorable little ditty became the theme song for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, cowboy stars of movies, TV, and radio in the middle of the 20^th century. Rogers and Evans were married in real life. Evans penned this herself.

Roy Rogers (1911-1998) was a phenomenon. Born Leonard Slye, he knocked around show biz in California while working many different menial jobs. In 1933, he helped to form a singing group that soon became known as the Sons of the Pioneers. The group scored hits such as “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” and “Cool Water.”

Then, in 1938, cowboy star Gene Autry wanted more money for his film work. The studio decided to create their own singing cowboy, whom they could pay less. Leonard won the job. He was quickly rechristened Roy Rogers, and he made Under Western Stars. He was an instant hit, and was soon to be known as the King of the Cowboys.

In 1944, he met Dale Evans (1912-2001), who up to that point had a successful career as a jazz singer. They married on New Year’s Eve, 1947 and immediately began performing together. In 1952, Evans created this song as the closing theme for the radio and TV incarnations of The Roy Rogers Show.

The lyrics are upbeat:

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

The song has become part of the collective consciousness.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Kitty Wells sings “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.”