Throwing back to the week of March 22, 1955, we find Bill Hayes atop the Billboard chart with ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett.’ This novelty folk song was written by George Bruns (not Burns) and Thomas W. Blackburn for the show Disneyland (which was later retitled The Wonderful World of Disney).
Three versions of the song hit the charts around the same time, including one by Fess Parker that was #6 this week and one by Tennessee Ernie Ford that reached the top ten the following week. But it was this version by actor/singer Hayes that did the best, reaching #1 and holding the top spot for a month.
Just a few weeks ago I noted that three different versions of ‘Melody of Love‘ occupied the Top 20 for 11 weeks and figured it must be a record.
Apparently not. The three versions of ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett’ spent 15 straight weeks in the Top 20, and nine straight in the Top 10. In the spring of 1955, Davy Crockett was king.
Born on a mountain in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so’s he knew every tree
He killed him a b’ar when he was only three
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
[Verse 2]
Fought single-handed thru the Injun war
‘Till the Creeks was whipped and the peace was in store
And while he was a’handlin’ this risky chore
Made hisself a legend forever more
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, the man who don’t know fear
[Verse 3]
When he lost his love, his grief was gall
In his heart, he wanted to leave it all
And lose hisself in the forest tall
But he answered, instead, his country’s call
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, the choice of the whole frontier
[Verse 4]
He went off to Congress and served a spell
Fixin’ up the government and laws as well
Took over Washington, so we hear tell
And patched up a crack in the Liberty Bell
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, seein’ his duty clear
[Verse 5]
When he came home, his politickin’ done
Why, the big western march had just begun
So he packed his gear and his trusty gun
And lit out a’grinnin’ to follow the sun
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, leadin’ the pioneer
[Verse 6]
His land is the biggest, his land is the best
From grassy plaines to the mountain crest
He’s ahead of us all and meetin’ the test
And a’follern’ his legend right into the west
[Chorus]
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Meet Me In Montauk 
I had always assumed this song was for a TV series or movie, but I guess not.
I remember this show and the tv show. We watched it and my brother had a Davy Crockett coon skin hat! I remember Fess Parker starred as Davy Crockett so I knew he sang the song but never heard of Bill Hayes.