John Coulter was a trapper,
and he knew the ways of game.
But it wasn't for his trapping
that he won immortal fame.
He traveled up the Yellowstone
and discovered Coulter's hell.
But it isn't of his geysers
that my yarn is going to tell.
Sing of the bravest mountain man,
Sing of the strong and the fleet,
Coulter's courage was in his heart,
And his speed was in his feet.
Now John Coulter heard the Blackfeet
Claim the land off to the west,
But he said he'd do his trapping,
For the trapping it was best.
He went and took his share of fur,
Then started back to Fort Manuel.
And he didn't get no warning,
Till he heard the Blackfeet yell,
Sing of the bravest mountain man,
Sing of the strong and the fleet,
Coulter's courage was in his heart,
And his speed was in his feet.
Well, John Coulter knew the Blackfeet
must believe him unafraid.
He looked his captor in the eye,
a dangerous game he played.
The Blackfoot chief said to his men,
this prisoner is so brave,
we take his clothes and turn him loose
with a chance his scalp to save.
Well, set him loose without his clothes,
without his shoes and gun.
His courage was his only hope,
a race for his life to run.
Their fastest runners after him,
their lances waving high,
the knowledge pounding in his heart
that he had to win or die.
Sing of the bravest mountain men,
sing of the strong and the fleet.
Coulter's courage was in his heart
and his speed was in his feet.
and he ran like an antelope in fright,
straight across the cactus
Lungs are bursting with the effort,
every muscle starts to scream,
six miles of endless running,
Dives deep into the water,
breathing through a hollow reed,
leaving Blackfoot runners
by the wonder of his speed.
John waited till the Redmen left,
then walked back to Fort Manuel.
300 miles of barefoot trail.
Said he'd like to rest a spell.
Sing of the bravest mountain man
Sing of the strong and the fleet
Colter's courage was in his heart
And his speed was in his feet
And his speed was in his feet.
