Happy Trails was known as the theme song for radio programming in the 1940s and 1950s and the television show in the 1950s in which Roy Rogers and her wife Dale Evans starred. They always sing the song over the end credits of those programs. The members of The Western Writers of America included the song in the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.

Dale Evans was a gifted songwriter, and she wrote this song which became their signature theme song. In the “Happy Trails, Our Life Story,” which is Roy Rogers, Dale Evans autobiography, Dale wrote the song one afternoon shortly after the birth of her and Roy’s daughter, Robin, in August of 1950.

Dale was at home with Robin when she started thinking about the song that she and Roy were closing the “Roy Rogers Show” on the radio. The song was “Smiles Are Made Out Of Sunshine” and while it was popular, Dale felt the song wasn’t Western enough. She also wanted a song that was more in line with the fact that a cowboy has to ride on the trails no matter what the weather, especially if the trails are not sunny.

Because of this, Dale was inspired to write Happy Trails and they started to close their radio show with this song which became a hit.

Popular Recordings

There have been numerous notable cover versions of the song. Some of them are recorded by the following artists:

• Quicksilver Messenger Service
• Janis Joplin
• Van Halen
• Randy Travis
• Michael Martin Murphey
• The Nickel Creek Band
• Lynn Anderson

Happy Trails In Albums

The song has been released as well in different albums. Some of the albums where the song has been included in the tracklist are:

• Happy Trails
• Diver Down
• Heroes & Friends

Listen (Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Version)

Happy Trails Lyrics

Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.

It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smiling until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.