During 1960, Horton had two other successes with "North to Alaska" for John Wayne's movie, North to Alaska, and "Sink the Bismarck". Horton is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Johnny Horton had several top ten songs in the late 50's and early 60's and was on the verge of becoming one of the top stars of the 60's when he met with tragedy.
He was born John Gale Horton in Los Angeles in 1925. He was raised in Tyler, Texas. Horton worked in the fishing industry in Alaska and California, and attended Seattle University. He worked for a while as a carpenter, and played basketball at Baylor University. He worked at a local radio station in East Texas and at the Hometown Jamboree in California. He did some recording with little success for the Abbott, Mercury, and Dot labels and picked up the nickname the Singing Fisherman. Horton became a regular on the Louisiana Hayride.
Johnny married Billie Jean Jones, the widow of country music legend Hank Williams. He sang country songs and signed a recording contract with Columbia, where he would achieve his greatest success. Some of his first hits included Honky Tonk Man, I'm A One-Woman Man in 1956, Coming Home in 1957 and All Grown Up in 1958. He topped the country charts in 1959 with When It's Springtime In Alaska.
Johnny Horton then began to record a series of saga songs that crossed over to the pop charts. He covered Jimmy Driftwood's The Battle Of New Orleans in 1959. The song topped the country charts and it reached number one on the pop charts, where it remained for a solid six weeks. The song was a tribute to the final battle of the War of 1812. He also recorded Sink The Bismarck in 1960, a song that was suggested by the film of the same title; it went top ten country and pop. Johnny Horton was a star. He sang the title song for the John Wayne movie North To Alaska and it too made the top ten in both charts during the same year.
On November 5, 1960, while North To Alaska was still climbing the charts, Horton was killed in an automobile accident in Milano, Texas following an appearance at the Skyline Club in Austin. He is buried in Hillcrest Cemetary in Haughton, LA.
Following Horton's death some of his earlier hit songs made the charts once again. Albums of his recordings were compiled and issued in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, and they are still selling.
His biography was published in 1983 under the title Your Singing Fisherman.
Snow Shoe Thompson
Johnny Horton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uncle Sam needs a postman to carry the mail
Through the High Sierra Mountains over God forsaken trails
Snow Shoe Thompson told 'em he knew he was their man
I'll get through them mountains if anybody can
He took a pair of snowshoes he took a pair of skis
And led out through that mountains where the normal man would freeze
He was cautious as a mountain cat fleet as a deer
He lived a life of danger bringin' mountain people the news
Cause Snow Shoe Thompson packed the mail on through
[ banjo ]
In the High Sierra Mountains it was 32 below
Blue blizzard fairly whistled bringin' 40 feet of snow
No one dared to venture on a slippery mountain trails
But Snow Shoe kept a comin' he was packin' US mail
His face was weather beaten from his many rugged miles
But he knew it was worth it when he'd see the people smile
His deeds are not forgotten they stay in the Hall of Fame
They stay in old Squaw Valley to Snow Shoe Thompson's name
He was cauition as a mountain cat...
The lyrics of Johnny Horton's "Snow Shoe Thompson" tells the story of a man named John Thompson who lived in California in the mid-1800s. John Thompson is widely known as "Snowshoe Thompson." In 1855 when Uncle Sam needed a postman to carry the mail through the treacherous High Sierra Mountains between California and Nevada, Thompson took it as his duty to help. Despite the high risk of danger and facing frigid temperatures of 32 below, Thompson knew he was the man meant for the job. He used his exceptional skills in snowshoe walking and skiing to traverse the mountain trails, whereas most people would freeze. Though the journey through the mountains was difficult, Snow Shoe Thompson completed the task successfully, pausing only to help the mountain people by bringing them the news.
The story highlights Snow Shoe Thompson's bravery, resilient spirit and dedication to duty. Despite living a life of danger, bringing mountain people the news, he never wavered in his commitment. Thompson's efforts were not in vain, and today, he is celebrated in the Hall of Fame for his deeds. The lyrics are a tribute to a real-life hero, an honorable and admirable figure who defied the limiting beliefs of what was traditionally possible to forge his path for the good of his community.
Line by Line Meaning
In 1855 in old California a man was a looking in the paper one day
A man in California was looking through a newspaper in the year 1855.
Uncle Sam needs a postman to carry the mail
The United States government was seeking a postman to deliver the mail.
Through the High Sierra Mountains over God forsaken trails
The mail delivery route required crossing the High Sierra Mountains on treacherous trails.
Snow Shoe Thompson told 'em he knew he was their man
Snow Shoe Thompson expressed his confidence that he was the right person for the job.
I'll get through them mountains if anybody can
Snow Shoe Thompson believed he had the ability to successfully make the journey through the mountains.
He took a pair of snowshoes he took a pair of skis
Snow Shoe Thompson prepared for the journey by taking both snowshoes and skis.
And led out through that mountains where the normal man would freeze
Snow Shoe Thompson began his journey through the mountains where the conditions were too harsh for the average person to handle.
He was cautious as a mountain cat fleet as a deer
Snow Shoe Thompson moved carefully and swiftly through the mountains.
Tough as a grizzly bear he knew no fear
Snow Shoe Thompson was brave and fearless like a strong grizzly bear.
He lived a life of danger bringin' mountain people the news
Snow Shoe Thompson risked his life to deliver important news to the people living in the mountains.
Cause Snow Shoe Thompson packed the mail on through
Snow Shoe Thompson persisted in delivering the mail despite the various obstacles he faced.
[ banjo ]
Musical interlude.
In the High Sierra Mountains it was 32 below
The temperature in the High Sierra Mountains was extremely cold at 32 degrees below zero.
Blue blizzard fairly whistled bringin' 40 feet of snow
The blizzard came with strong winds and brought an enormous amount of snow measuring 40 feet high.
No one dared to venture on a slippery mountain trails
Because of the treacherous conditions, people were too afraid to attempt navigating through the slippery mountain trails.
But Snow Shoe kept a comin' he was packin' US mail
Despite the difficult conditions, Snow Shoe Thompson continued to deliver the US mail.
His face was weather beaten from his many rugged miles
Snow Shoe Thompson's face was marked by the harsh conditions he endured on his many journeys through the mountains.
But he knew it was worth it when he'd see the people smile
Despite the difficulties, Snow Shoe Thompson found satisfaction in seeing the joy that his deliveries brought to the people.
His deeds are not forgotten they stay in the Hall of Fame
Snow Shoe Thompson's accomplishments are remembered and celebrated in the Hall of Fame.
They stay in old Squaw Valley to Snow Shoe Thompson's name
The legacy of Snow Shoe Thompson lives on in Squaw Valley where he is remembered and honored.
He was cauition as a mountain cat...
Repeats previous description of Snow Shoe Thompson's careful and swift movement through the mountains.
Contributed by Micah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JohnnyHawkins-mt9rc
I can dig it I just love this song!
@rickraber1249
Think about how many historical songs Mr. Horton wrote. When it came to the Civil War, he wrote for both sides. Re the war of 1812, I still love The Battle of 1814.