Blue Shadows on the Trail
Western Music
The Lone Writer  

Western Song: Blue Shadows On The Trail

Hollywood-based Eliot Daniel and Johnny Lange produced “Blue Shadows On The Trail” for the 1948 Disney animated film entitled “Melody Time.” Roy Rogers and The Sons of The Pioneers first recorded the song on December 1, 1947, releasing it as a single on March 1948. The Western-styled melody played during the opening of the final segment and the film’s closing. Members of the Western Writers of America chose and added the song to their list of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

About the Song

The “Pecos Bill” segment of Melody Time required a cowboy ballad, so Eliot Daniel and Johnny Lange produced the song Blue Shadows on The Trail. It usually plays throughout the evening, along with the howling of the coyotes while a pair of owls fly away. At the end of the film, the song plays again where Pecos Bill lost his significant other, Slue-Foot Sue.

Popular Recordings

Aside from the musician mentioned above, the song has been recorded by various artists including:

  • Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra
  • Bing Crosby with Ken Darby Choir and Victor Young and His Orchestra
  • Jimmy Wakely with The Jud Conlon Singers and The Three Rays
  • Riders in the Sky
  • Sean Blackburn
  • RW Hampton
  • Andy Russell
  • Gene Autry and the Melody Ranch Gang
  • Buddy Clark
  • Denny Dennis and the Keynote
  • Art Mooney and His Orchestra
  • Trails & Rails
  • Barbara Nelson
  • Laura Crema
  • Sara Watkins feat. Nickel Creek

Listen to Blue Shadows On The Trail (Sons of The Pioneers Version)

Blue Shadows On The Trail Lyrics

Shades of night are falling  
As the wind begins to sigh
And the world's silhouetted 'gainst the sky

Blue shadows on the trail
Blue moon shinin' through the trees
And a plaintive wail from the distance
Comes a driftin' on the evenin' breeze

Move along, blue shadows, move along
Soon the dawn will come and you'll be on your way
Until the darkness sheds its veil
There'll be blue shadows on the trail

[Whistling]

Move along, blue shadows, move along
(Move along, move along, move along)
Soon the dawn will come and you'll be on your way (on your way)
Until the darkness sheds its veil
There'll be blue shadows on the trail

Shadows on the trail

Leave A Comment

book cover mockup for Western Writing

Looking for an Epic Western Adventure? Look No Further!

How would you like to ride hell-bent for leather into a world full of adventure and heroism?

Get Your Free Copy Today>>