Dolan
Ellis has written more than 300 songs, and most are about Arizona
and/or the American Southwest. Some are about people, some
are about places, some are about events or occupations. All
convey the special understanding Dolan has for his adopted
state.
Some
of Dolan's more popular songs are alphabetized on this page
with a brief description. Many have links to an additional
page with further information which may include audio clips
or photographs.
Dolan
Ellis also carefully selects songs he didn't write and arranges
them to make them his own. There is a separate listing of those
songs as well, which you can access when you click here.
We've
also included a page of Dolan's theme shows,
with a partial list of songs that might be included in each.
And
there is now a Dolan Ellis Humor page, brand new in August
2006. Much of the humor is associated with particular
songs.
Watch
for NEW! in red to indicate the
latest additions.
Scroll
down the page to see the songs that have video available. There
are two types of video offered for some songs: RealPlayer or
Windows Media,
RealPlayer video
is offered in two sizes, and Windows Media is offered in three
sizes.
While files download,
you can continue to read text on this page, or visit other
pages on the site.
PLEASE NOTE: The video
clips on this page are not from the "...after
the show (™)" DVD, which is a professional recording
using three cameras and excellent sound equipment. They
are intended to show Dolan's diversity, his talent as a singer
and guitarist, his energy, and his incredible stage personality.
For
those who have seen Dolan Ellis perform, we hope the videos
will bring back fond memories, whether you last saw him a week
ago or 30 years ago. For anyone who has never seen a
Dolan Ellis show, we invite you to watch and listen and understand
why this man has been chosen by ten consecutive Arizona governors
to be Arizona's Official State Balladeer.
Songs
with a link (underscored title) have additional information
on a separate page
A,
B, C:
Ain't
No Catfish in Ajo: This is a song that was
recorded on Dolan's "Touch
the Earth" LP, now available
on the CD by the same title. Many fans request
it and remember it as one of Dolan's earliest songs
about what makes Arizona so different from most other
states. Audio
Clip.
Alice
Greenough: Biographical song about the World-Champion
Cowgirl of 1934 who was a rodeo rider for more than
30 years. Available on the "Cowgirls"
CD. Audio
Clip.
The following video clip
was taken at the Arizona Folklore Preserve. In case
you wonder why Dolan is looking up during the song, he's
referring to the photographs being displayed.
Along Came Man : This is one POWERFUL song! It's recorded on the "Tuba City" CD. It can be described as an ecology song, and it was many years ahead of its time. "People, we've gotta save our land." Audio
Clip.
Amerizona: A whimsical, patriotic
song about Arizona, "just a little
itty bitty U.S.A." It's
recorded on the "...after the show (™)" DVD.
Dolan was prominently featured on the
Arizona portion of "The States," a series of programs
presented by the History Channel and now available on DVD.
Apparently, only Arizona had a significant original music
segment in their program, but then no other state has Dolan
Ellis. He sang this song as images of Arizona appear on the
screen (and Dolan is also seen).
Arizona,
Home to Me:
This is a very good song that Dolan includes in his shows
occasionally. It's as much a travelogue
and history lesson as a song, with photography to illustrate
the various points.
Arizona
Christmas: The subtitle is "Cactus
and Christmas Trees," and this song is
all about the things that make Christmas in Arizona
special and unusual. Dolan recorded it for the 2004
Christmas card. Audio
Clip.
NEW Sep 13, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player.
Arizona
Groovin': A song especially for the autumn, when
the cowboys are coming from the cold country to Arizona,
for roundups and rodeos. This song is
included on the
"Tuba City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Arizona
History 101: This is actually an old folk song, with lyrics rewritten by Dolan to make it an Arizona song. The New Christy Minstrels recorded it as "The Great Historial Bum.". This song is on the "Tuba City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Arizona
I-10 Highway: Dolan still gets quite a few
requests for this old song about the interstate stretch
between Phoenix and Tucson. This song is on the "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
Arizona,
Through and Through: Dolan's finest Arizona
theme song, expressing his feelings about the state
and speaking for many other people as well. It's recorded
on the "...after the
show (™)" DVD.
Backroads, Ballads and Beer: This is one of Dolan's closing songs, from days of old. It's fun and lively, and certainly would have sent the fans off in a good mood. This song is on the "Chemistry" CD. Audio
Clip.
The
Ballad of Sheriff Joe: Dolan finished
this song in February 2007 and first sang it at the
Arizona Folklore Preserve on February 2nd. Since then,
he has sung it at several of his solo shows, three
times in Phoenix area concerts with the New Christy
Minstrels, once for a jam session with many other professional
musicians, and even for the Arizona State Senators
on Statehood Day. Clearly, the song is a success, telling
the colorful story of the colorful lawman, Sheriff
Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, the fourth largest county
in the nation. Sheriff Joe is known for being tough,
and Dolan’s song includes many gems,
all true, such as the pink underwear, the chain-gang trash
pickup crew, and the green baloney stew.
Dolan has recorded the song with the New Christy Minstrels.
Beautiful
Sunsets, Beautiful Skies: This is a song with
lyrics that can help one to imagine the scenery Dolan
is singing about. When Dolan's spectacular photography
is displayed, one can see exactly what he had in mind.
Bitch,
Bitch, Bitch: Dolan has a lot of fun with this
song, included in the Cowgirls play and really written
about a rancher who was Dolan's neighbor on the Mogollon
Rim. Some people are just never satisfied. It's
recorded on the "...after
the show (™)" DVD and also
on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
The
Bombing of Naco, Arizona: The
story of Patrick Murphy, an Irishman who was a barnstormer
in the 1920s, got drunk in Bisbee, and decided to join
the Mexican Reviolutionaries in Naco, Arizona, in their
fight against the Federales. This song is recorded
on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
NEW Mar 31, 2007: A
video clip of this song, recorded in February 2007.
Call
Me the Balladeer: One of Dolan's theme songs,
in which he expresses the feeling that the songs are
more important than the singer. "Forget
my face, forget my name, just call me the Balladeer."
Camino
del Diablo: The Devil's Highway, a 150-mile
stretch in the far southwestern corner of Arizona,
one of the driest and hottest desert areas to be found
in the U.S. Recorded on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
Canyons: What a delightful song! Dolan Ellis, who loves to tell us he never had a "real" job (much to his mother's chagrin) wrote a song about a man who has to make business calls, and all the time has "canyons layin' on his mind." This song is on the "Chemistry" CD. Audio
Clip.
Cochise
County: Written for the display at Kartchner
Caverns State Park, this song covers many aspects of
Cochise County life.
Cowboy's
Vision: A Christmas song Dolan used for his
first Balladeer Card, the Christmas card for 2002.
Cowboy's Vision was previously recorded on the "Touch
the Earth" album (now a CD). The original recording
was great, but it was updated for the Christmas card
and is even more beautiful. Audio
Clip.
Two video clips are presented
here, each with Dolan singing at a campfire.
Cowgirl
and the Devil: This song, written for the "Cowgirls" play
and recorded on the "Cowgirls" CD,
is one of the most theatrical of Dolan's recordings. Audio
Clip.
Cowgirls: The theme song for
the "Cowgirls" play. "Here's to the
cowgirls who live in their own world and sing their own
kind of song..." Recorded
on the "Cowgirls"
CD. You may hear Dolan sing this one when on tour
with the New Christy Minstrels. Includes yodeling. Audio
Clip
NEW Mar 31, 2007: Finally,
video of this song, complete with photography, is added!
Don't
Let Me Down: Another song from the Cowgirls
play and recorded on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
Early
Morning Blue:
A really beautiful, romantic song that unforunately fits in
the list of "Songs I [Dolan] Seldom Sing." . This song is on the "Chemistry" CD. Audio
Clip.
Electric
Anthill: Dolan compares the lights of Phoenix
highways, as seen from higher ground, to ants on an
anthill. He wrote this song when the population was
less than 25% of what it is now, so the Electric Anthill
has become much more of a force. This song is on the "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
Flight
to Phoenix :A song for the weary traveler, anxious to
get back home. This
song is included on the
"Tuba City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Frank
Murphy's Impossible Bradshaw Mountain Railroad:
Frank Murphy was an Arizonan who refused to take no
for an answer and as a result increased his riches
significantly when he built a railroad that couldn't
be done. It's recorded on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
NEW Mar 31, 2007: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player. The
starting point is the same as the clip above, but the extra
seconds include a special comedy routine by Dolan.
Geronimo: One of Dolan's greatest
songs. It is just over 10 minutes on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD and it takes about
the same amount of time for him to introduce it and sing
it on stage. When he sings it, Dolan, the actor, truly
becomes Geronimo, and lives the life and experiences the
emotions of this amazing Apache warrior. Audio
Clip.
The
following video clips capture just a little of the drama
of this song, as well as some wonderful vocal and guitar
work by Dolan.
He
Called It Tombstone: This is the first in
what will be a series of songs about Tombstone, Arizona.
This one is about Ed Shefflin, the founder of the city
and the first person to make a big silver strike.
This song was featured on the History Channel's Arizona
program of their series The States (now available on DVD).
Dolan is shown singing portions of this song, alternating
with spoken messages by historian Jim Turner and scenes of
Tombstone.
(Goin'
Home to) Springerville. Please
seeSpringerville below.
Great Western
Trail:
Dolan will often open a show with this song: "Roll
on, great western trail, take me back to track my heroes
in those legends and those tales of the cowboy and
the miner and the comin' of the rail..."
Hereford
Redneck: A story of a cowboy turned soldier
who becomes a hero, saving the life of a man of another
race. This song is recorded on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
Hummingbird
Canyon: Dolan's nickname for Ramsey Canyon,
because it has almost all of the world's hummingbird
varieties. It's a sweet song that includes references
to the Arizona Folklore Preserve Dolan founded, such
as in the line: "Out in Hummingbird
Canyon where the folk songs are sung."
I'm
Home:
One of Dolan's newer songs, inspired by a camping trip
and the feeling of waking up in the morning to the
beauty and freshness of nature.
It's a Lazy
Afternoon:
This song is part of the medley Dolan sings with "Summertime."
It's a very dreamy song that fits perfectly with a
summertime theme.
Jesus
Garcia: Not an Arizona song, this is about
a brave young man from Nacozari, Mexico, who in 1907
saved the town and its 5,000 inhabitants from disaster
and lost his own life in the process. More
than 100 statues have been placed around the Spanish-speaking
world in honor of Jesus Garcia. The town was
renamed for him. Many songs have been written
in Spanish about his bravery, but Dolan's is the only
known tribute to Jesus Garcia that is written and sung
in the English language.
Keeper
of the Town: This is the story of Sunnyside,
a ghost town in the Huachuca Mountains, just 3 miles
from the Arizona Folklore Preserve as the crow flies,
but about 30 miles of rough terrain and switchbacks
by automobile. The photography of the 1970 remains
of the mining town that was deserted in the 1930s,
along with those of Reverend John McIntyre and his
wife, Anna, who returned to live alone there after
retirement, is especially important because John and
Anna are now gone, and there is almost nothing let
of any of the buildings. This song is on Dolan's "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
The following video provides
a sampling of Dolan's photography taken at the site, but
the beginning photo is of the town's music teacher, Sister
Katie Crawford, taken before Dolan was even born.
Lady
of the Ledge: A Hopi woman leaped to her death
from a ledge in Coal Canyon more than 100 years ago,
and her ghost can be seen on moonlit nights. This
song is included on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
Lake
Powell: Beautiful song, beautiful photography.
Many people don't realize there was a huge controversy
over the construction of Glen Canyon Dam to create
this incredible lake in the desert, and that there
are still environmentalists who would love to drain
the lake. In his introduction, Dolan always tells both
sides of the controversy.
Leon
the Peon: A song about a hippie, this comical
number has a number of interesting twists.
Little One-Ghost Town: This is a great Halloween song, and even more fun with the large-screen photography that depicts the ghostly aspects of the deserted desert town. This song is on the "Tuba City " CD. Audio
Clip.
Low
Down, No Down Payment Home: The story of Mr.
Carter, a World War II veteran who chose to live in
the desert in a home made of scraps from old homes,
license plates, and other found objects. Dolan's photography
to go with this song illustrates the trust the small
animals had for Mr. Carter. This song is recorded
on the "Tuba
City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Magic
Mountain: A wonderful spiritual song about
forces stronger than mankind. It's the final track
on "Tall Tales,
Lost Trails & Heroes" CD and is another example
of the drama Dolan Ellis can bring to the stage. Audio
Clip.
Many
Cherry Canyon Boy: A beautiful song made even
more beautiful by Dolan's photography of the (then)
15-year-old Navajo boy, Bart Begay, in his native Canyon
de Chelly. Bart's father, Key Begay, was Dolan's guide
on Navajo Christmas trips for many years and was murdered
over a land dispute when Bart, the eldest son, was
still a young teenager. Key's CB handle was Many Cherry
Canyon Man, and his son's handle was Many Cherry Canyon
Boy.
Although Dolan wrote the
song for Bart Begay, it has a universal theme; that of a
child honoring his people's ancient traditions,
while at the same time learning to live in the modern world.
May They Rest in Peace Renewed. A song Dolan wrote to be part of the ceremony of moving the remains of 57 Union Soldiers who had been buried in Tucson in the late 1800s and had been forgotten, to the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista. The story about the move, as well as photographs of the ceremony, are on this page.
A YouTube Video of the song is below. Click on the screen to see a larger version on the YouTube site.
Mogollon
Monster: The Mogollon Monster is Arizona's
answer to Big Foot. Dolan put a new twist on him, making
him a litter eater who only bothers
litterbugs. This song is on the "Chemistry" CD. Audio
Clip.
My
Rodeo Home: Fans of yodeling may find this
to be among their favorite Dolan Ellis songs. It was written
for the Cowgirls play and is included on the "Cowgirls" CD.
There's a bit of humor in the song about the life of
a rodeo clown on the road.
NEW Mar 31, 2007: A
close-up video of Dolan singing this song, complete with
yodeling. Dolan is grinning as he sings this song.
Nature's
Children: A very pretty song, with beautiful
photography of the Havasupai Canyon to illustrate it.
This song is on the "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
The
Old Homestead: Dolan's inspiration for this
song was a run-down, deserted old ranch home he happened
upon when he was alone on a camping trip, in an area
that was almost 6,000 feet in elevation. He took photographs
during the day at the ranch, then wrote the song from
memory around his campfire that evening. The result
is available on the "Touch
the Eart" CD. Audio
Clip.
Only
the Dead Stay Down: A song from Cowgirls, it's
both funny and serious. The point is that in the sport
of rodeo, there are no time-outs and there is no room
for wimps. This is available on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
Orphan
of the Hills: This song is about the mustang
horse and is included on the "Touch
the Earth" CD.
It's a wonderful song that expresses the hope that
the mustang breed will survive. The photography Dolan
uses is not his own, but there are truly stunning pictures
of herds of the wild horses. Audio
Clip.
The video below was taken
at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch east of Tucson, and the horses
are not wild mustangs, but very sweet and tame. They
seemed to be enjoying the taping session.
Watch Orphan
of the Hills Video (Tanque Verde) (0:57)
Ramsey
Canyon Rainy Day: A bluesy song, perfect for
singing on one of those rare stormy afternoons at the
Arizona Folklore Preserve.
The
Retirin' of Old George Cline: A biographical
song about a rancher in the Tonto Basin whose holdings
were vast, who was a rodeo champion. "How can we say
he died when the memory of a man is so much alive;
let's just call it the retirin' of Old George Cline." It's
recorded on the "...after the show (TM)" DVD.
This song is also available on the "Chemistry" CD. That's a live recording, and Dolan sang most of the song, then recited "Tyin' Knots in the Devil's Tail" (see Cover Songs and Poems for description and video and audio clips of that poem), then sang the refrain for this song. Clips from both parts are below. Audio
Clip.
Sheriff
Joe: Please refer to the Ballad of Sheriff
Joe.
Sierra
Vista: Dolan wrote this song to commemorate
the 10th anniversary of the Sierra Vista Symphony in
2005, and to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of
the City of Sierra Vista in 2006. He sang "Sierra
Vista" with the Symphony in April 15, 2005,
with the audience at the Buena Performing Arts Center
joining him on the chorus. The reprise was at
the Veterans' Memorial Park in Sierra Vista on Memorial
Day weekend, 2006, for the big anniversary. That
performance was also with the Sierra Vista Symhony.
Son
of the Desert: A semi-autobiographical
song, this one reflects Dolan's feelings about
the desert and the Southwest. The hero of the song
now "makes
a living with a guitar in his hand." It's included
on the "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
Song
of Spring: Dolan wrote this song to celebrate
spring in Arizona. HIs photography that goes
with the song is truly spectacular, just as springtime
in Arizona is. The song is recorded on the "Tuba
City" CD and also as a single song in a greeting
card package that includes the photography as a
slide show on DVD. Audio
Clip.
This video clip shows
some of the slides as Dolan sings the song and displays them.
Springerville: Dolan
wrote this song on the plane, on the short trip from Lake
Tahoe to Phoenix, in 1963 when he left the New Christy
Minstrels to return to his beloved Arizona, Phoenix and
Scottsdale. The song is recorded on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
"Springerville" was recorded several years earlier on the "Tuba City" CD. Listen to the difference on this clip:Audio
Clip..
Both wonderful, but very different arrangements.
Summer
is Over: A song about the passing of seasons
as another year goes by.
Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes: A theme song,
recorded on the CD by the same title. Audio
Clip.
T.E. Wiley's Train: Another of Dolan's tributes to a man who did his job perhaps better than anyone else could have. Tom Wiley was the conductor on the passenger train from Ajo to Gila Bend ("41 miles through Midway and Childs and back home to Ajo again"). Wiley's granddaughter, who is featured in the song, has a letter on the fan mail pages. This song is on the "Chemistry" CD. Audio
Clip.
Therapeutic
4-Wheel Drive: Dolan has written a lot of songs
that are just plain fun, and this is one of them: "Is
this trail too steep for my dusty old Jeep and can
I get it to the other side." It's recorded on the "Touch
the Earth" CD. Audio
Clip.
The Jeep CJs were one
of Dolan's "brands" for many years. He owned several of them,
and always had them specially equipped for camping. He logged
more than a million miles on them before he stopped counting.
Tom Simmons: When Dolan Ellis writes a song about an "ordinary citizen," you can bet there's something extraordinary about that person. Tom Simmons was a good friend of Dolan's, who had a cabin in the woods and lived a very simple life. This is a wonderful tribute. . This song is on the "Tuba City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Tuba
City Truck Stop: The full title is "Who's
Gonna Run the Truck Stop in Tuba City When I'm Gone." One
of Dolan's more fun songs, it's a lively number that
many of his fans from the 1970s request again and again.
This one is recorded on the CD by
the same title. Audio
Clip.
This song was so popular,
as a matter of fact, that Dolan named his club, the Tuba
City Truck Stop and Country Club, after it, and many requests
come from fans who patronized that club and really miss it.
Underground
Music: This song is about spelunking, or cave
exploration. It's part of the "Touch
the Earth" CD
and is illustrated on stage with some great photography. Audio
Clip.
Western Wind: This is a very good song that has fallen off of Dolan's concert playlist. That happens when a musician composes so many songs. You can listen to it on the "Tuba City" CD. Audio
Clip.
Who's
Gonna Run the Truck Stop in Tuba City When I'm Gone: Please refer
to this song's short title, Tuba City Truck Stop.
Wildfire: A
wonderful tribute to the firefighters who were finally
able to stop the Rodeo-Chediski Fire of 2002. Dolan recorded
Wildfire on a single-song
CD available for purchase in
support of Dolan's "CDs for New Trees" campaign. Audio
Clip.
It takes at least two
clips of this song to begin to convey the emotion The
first clip below is the first verse, and the conclusion is
in the second clip.
Wildflowers: A Cowgirls song
that analogizes cowgirls and wildflowers: sturdy and strong
and yet pretty. Included on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
Wind
Bells, Wind Chimes: A beautifully romantic
song about chimes, especially the ones crafted by architect
Paolo Soleri.
Wintertime
and Snowin' : A dreamy song for a snowy winter's
day.
Yuppieville: A song from Cowgirls,
one that reveals the greedy lifestyle of one of the champion
cowgirls in the play. It's recorded on the "...after
the show (™)"" DVD as well as on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
Zoom
Va Va Voom: About a trip to a border town in
Mexico, a bit too much to drink, and perhaps a bit
too much fun.
