Ballad of Big Thunder

“Ballad of Big Thunder” is a song about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The song’s story explained the history of the train, and was one of the earliest attempts to give the attraction a backstory. Unused in the ride itself, it was found on the made-to-order Disneyland Forever CDs, available in the parks in the late-1990s.

The song was performed by Handpicked, a band that played in Frontierland and at the Golden Horseshoe Revue in the 1970s, with Bob Sofer on banjo, Phil Salazar on fiddle, and Mark McConnell on guitar and lead vocals.

Lyrics
At Big Thunder Mountain Station, there’s a frightened, trembling man His body’s weak and feeble, and his skin has lost its tan When I asked him for a ticket, he turned and shook his head He grabbed me by the shoulder, and this is what he said

“Before you get on board this train, there’s something you should know When I finish with this tale, you might not want to go” I listened with amazement at what he said was true And now, my friend, the time has come to tell this tale to you

Hear the legend of Thunder Mountain If you’re weak of heart, then stay away From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Thunder Mountain Railroad ran away

He said that legend has it, on one foggy night in June, The train and crew pulled out at twelve beneath the darken moon A boiler full of water and a tender full of coal The whistle screamed a warning, as the wheels began to roll

Then, like a bucking bronco with a cougar on its back, The train began to run away down miles and miles of track What happened to the crew that night, no one has ever learned The train pulled in all by itself, the men did not return

Hear the legend of Thunder Mountain If you’re weak of heart, then stay away From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Thunder Mountain Railroad ran away

The history of Big Thunder continues to unfold The stories of its danger continue to be told Of avalanche of rattlesnakes and earthquakes in the night And voices of that phantom crew that chill your blood with fright

(Spoken) So please forgive me, mister, if I’m standing in your way, But before you buy your ticket, there’s one thing I have to say…

Hear the legend of Thunder Mountain If you’re weak of heart, then stay away From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Thunder Mountain Railroad ran away

Hear the legend of Thunder Mountain If you’re weak of heart, then stay away From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Thunder Mountain Railroad ran away

Hear the legend of Thunder Mountain If you’re weak of heart, then stay away From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Thunder Mountain Railroad ran away