Bagaimana cara untuk menulis tentang tema song yang paling ikonik dari serial TV klasik "Bonanza"? Kita akan melakukan perjalanan melalui lirik yang jarang dihearkan dan memahami bagaimana komposer Ray Evans dan Jay Livingston menciptakan lagu yang menjadi bagian dari sejarah TV.

Tahun 1961, lagu tema Bonanza dibuat oleh Al Caiola and His Orchestra, menjadi hit pop Top 20. Namun, lirik asli yang digunakan dalam episode serial TV tidak sepenuhnya dikenal hingga saat ini. Lirik resmi membahas tentang Ponderosa Ranch dan Cartwright family, dengan Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene) berbicara tentang penggalian tanah untuk mencari kesempatan.

Namun, lirik lain yang jarang dihearkan menampilkan suasana yang lebih romantis dan cerita tentang kehidupan Cartwright family. Lirik-lirik tersebut dikomposisi oleh Johnny Cash dengan Johnny Western tahun 1962, namun lagu ini tidak menjadi hit seperti versi asli.

Lirik-Lirik Jarang Dihearkan

We chased lady luck 'til we finally struck Bonanza
With a gun and a rope and a hat full of hope, planted a family tree
We got hold of a potful of gold, Bonanza
With a horse and a saddle, and a range full of cattle, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim

Here in the West, we're livin' the best, Bonanza
If anyone fights any one of us, he's got a fight with me
Bonanza. Hoss and Joe and Adam know every rock and pine
No one works, fights or eats, like those boys of mine

Here we stand in the middle of a grand Bonanza
With a gun and a rope and a hatful of hope, we planted our family tree
We got hold of a pot full of gold, Bonanza
With a houseful of friends where the rainbow ends, how rich can a fellow be?
On this land we put our brand, Cartwright is the name, fortune smiled, the day we filed the Ponderosa claim

Here in the West, we're livin' in the best, Bonanza
With the friendliest, fightingist, loving band,
That ever set foot in the promised land
And we're happier than them all.
That's why we call it Bonanza…Bonanza…Bonanza…

Versi Johnny Cash

The claim we hold is as good as gold, bonanza
Hand in hand we built this land, the Ponderosa Ranch
Our birthright is this Cartwright bonanza
We here belong, and standing strong, wrong ain't got a chance

Day by day, work or play, ready side by side
Hello friend, come on in, the gate is open wide
Bound to be a fightin' free bonanza,
Singing pines of boundary lines for the Ponderosa Ranch

Every tree and flower is part of our bonanza
The stars at night, the morning light, water in the branch
We ride along four men strong together
Every plain and ridge is our heritage: Ponderosa Ranch

Day by day, work or play, ready side by side
Hello friend, come on in, the gate is open wide.
Bound to be a fightin' free bonanza,
Singing pines of boundary lines for the Ponderosa Ranch