ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWXYZ Top
of Page
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.
NEW Sep 13, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play with your RealPlayer
if that is your default player.
 |
Watch Alice Greenough Video
(1:35)
|
|
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).
NEW
Jun 3, 2007: We finally have a video of this
fun song, captured during Memorial Day Weekend, 2007
|
Watch Amerizona Video
(1:19)
|
|
Arizona: See Arizona, Through and
Through
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.
|
Watch Arizona, Home to Me Video
(1:05)
|
|
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.
|
Watch Arizona Christmas Video
(1:10)
|
|
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.
NEW Sep 2, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player.
|
Watch Arizona Groovin' Video
(0:42)
|
|
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.
|
Watch Arizona, Through and Through Video
(1:19)
|
|
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.
NEW
May 29, 2007: Video
from the Arizona Folklore Preserve, May 26, 2007.
|
Watch The
Ballad of Sheriff Joe Video
(0:52)
|
|
NEW
Jun 3, 2007: Dolan sang Sheriff Joe for
a different audience later that evening and for the first
time, got the audience to participate in the vocal fun.
|
Watch The
Ballad of Sheriff Joe Video
(1:02)
|
|
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.
This is also on an older (live) recording, "Chemistry."
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.
|
Watch The
Bombing of Naco Video
(1:00)
|
|
Buddy
It's a Shame: The "shame" is for people who
have not experienced the wonderful Arizona outdoors. This song is on the "Tuba City" CD.
Audio
Clip.
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.
There's also a recording of this song on the "Chemistry" CD.
Audio
Clip.
|
Watch Camino del Diablo Video
(1:12)
|
|
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.
NEW Sep 13, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play with your RealPlayer
if that is your default player.
|
Watch Cowboy's Vision Video
#1 (0:55)
|
|
|
Watch Cowboy's Vision Video
#2 (0:41)
|
|
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!
|
Watch Cowgirls Video
(0:58)
|
|
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of Page
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.
|
Watch Frank
Murphy's Railroad Video
(1:19)
|
|
ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWXYZ Top
of Page
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.
NEW Sep 13, 2006: Windows Media File video
in 3 sizes. These files will play with your RealPlayer
if that is your default player.
|
Watch Geronimo Video
#1 (1:12)
|
|
|
Watch Geronimo Video
#1 (1:19)
|
|
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..."
NEW Mar 31, 2007: Watch
a little of this song...
|
Watch Great
Western Trail Video
(0:54)
|
|
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.
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of Page
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.
NEW Sep 2, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player.
|
Watch Jesus Garcia Video
(1:11)
|
|
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.
NEW Mar 31, 2007: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. This clip is from a different
show, and it is of the song's opening lines.
|
Watch Keeper
of the Town Video
(1:02)
|
|
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.
This song is also recorded (live) on the "Chemistry" 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.
|
Watch Low
Down, No Down Payment Home Video
(0:30) |
Broadband
(4.6 MB) |
| Dial-Up (0.4
MB) |
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of Page
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.
NEW Mar 31, 2007:This
one is from a video taken in February 2007. The clip is
of the song's finale, the most dramatic and moving part
of the song.
|
Watch Magic
Mountain Video
(1:13)
|
|
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.
It's
recorded on the "...after
the show (™)" DVD.
NEW
Mar 31, 2007: Watch
a clip of Dolan singing the tribute to his young
friend (who is now a grown man. The photography captures
the essence of Many Cherry Canyon Boy's character.
|
Watch Many
Cherry Canyon Boy Video
(1:27)
|
|
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.
|
Watch My Rodeo
Home Video
(1:07)
|
|
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 Crook Trail: Both a biographical song
about General George Crook of the Indian Wars, and
a story of the trail he created on the Mogollon Rim.
Recorded on the "Tall
Tales, Lost Trails & Heroes" CD. Audio
Clip.
NEW Sep 3, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player.
|
Watch The Old Crook Trail Video
(1:06)
|
|
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) |
Broadband (10.0
MB) |
| Dial-Up (0.9
MB) |
The
next video comes from the Arizona Folklore Preserve, as do
most of the vidoes on this Web site. This segment
shows some of the great photography.
|
Watch Orphan
of the Hills Video (AFP) (1:13) |
Broadband (8.9
MB) |
| Dial-Up (0.7
MB) |
ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWXYZ Top
of Page
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.
Audio
Clip.
|
Watch The
Retirin' of Old George Clne Video
(1:12) |
Broadband (10.9
MB) |
| Dial-Up (0.9
MB) |
NEW Sep 2, 2006: Windows
Media File video in 3 sizes. These files will play
with your RealPlayer if that is your default player.
|
Watch The Retirin' of Old George Cline Video
(1:12)
|
|
River
Holiday:
Written in 2004, this is a relatively new song for Dolan. It
was inspired by a river rafting experience.
Rodeo
Road: Another song from Cowgirls, a lively
song about the life of a rodeo cowgirl. This
is available on the "Cowgirls" CD. Audio
Clip.
ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO PQR STU VWXYZ Top
of Page
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," | 
