Saddle Your Worries to the Wind

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: March 16, 1939

Some folks live and worry all their whole lives thru
But I found out that isn’t quite the thing to do.
So listen, Pal, to me
And surely you’ll agree.

Refrain:
The sun’ll shine more brighter than he’s ever shone before
If you’ll saddle your worries to the wind.
Your happy heart will be your wealth, you’ll never ask for more,
If you’ll saddle your worries to the wind.
You’ll see the dark clouds vanish when the prairie breezes blow
And blue skies smile above you everywhere you go.
So get along, old timer, there’s a better range ahead
If you saddle your worries to the wind.

Dusty trails I’ve traveled everywhere they wend;
Crossroad trails, I wonder where they all will end.
I don’t much care and so,
I sing because I know….

Bob Nolan wrote this lively, joyous song for the Columbia movie, South of Arizona (July 7, 1938) when the entire burden of songwriting for the Starrett movies fell on his shoulders. It was a period of great challenge, excitement and hope for him and many of the songs he wrote reflect this. Although Bob Nolan wrote the songs, Columbia hired another more conventional baritone to sing his solo parts for him. Bob was forced to lip sync. It is amusing now to watch these films and listen to Bob ‘singing’ in someone else's unremarkable baritone while his own distinctive voice is clearly heard in the Pioneer backup. It amused Bob, too. He could not resist hamming it up a little while he mimed his part and, at times, the Sons of the Pioneers could barely restrain their laughter.

He was second lead to Charles Starrett and his character was integral to the story but someone in the Columbia Pictures hierarchy did not like his unusual voice. However, Bob Nolan had loyal fans from many years of Sons of the Pioneers' radio programs, personal appearances, concerts and tours. His fans wanted to hear Bob's unique voice in the movies and they successfully put pressure on Columbia. We finally hear Bob's singing voice in Western Caravans (1939) - and every film thereafter.

This period is generally thought to be their greatest and they were known then as "The Aristocrats of the Range" while Bob Nolan was nicknamed "The Stephen Foster of the West".

The song was registered for copyright on March 16, 1939 and sheet music appeared in Bob Nolan’s Folio of Original Cowboy Classics No. 1, © 1939 by American Music, Inc. The Pioneers included it a year later on their Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage radio transcriptions in 1940.

Saddle Your Worries to the Wind (American Music, Inc.)

The song was never commercially recorded but it was one of the Sons of the Pioneers' favorites for their radio programs and live concerts.

SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS

Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage, transcription (064412)

Teleways Radio Productions transcriptions, Nos. 96 and 176 (c. 1947-48)

Lucky U Ranch radio shows (courtesy of Larry Hopper)
- Transcriptions disc TR-105/106 (November 20, 1951)
- Transcriptions disc TR-168/169 (December 28, 1951)
- Transcriptions disc TR-252/253 (February 22, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-335/336 (April 22, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-487/488 (August 22, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-541/542 (October 30, 1952)