OLD TIGE
As recorded by Jim Reeves, 1966.

[Sung by female backup singers:]
Tige, you were faithful, faithful to the end.
Tige, how I miss you; you were my best friend.

[Recited by Reeves:]
Three years of army service done and I was headin' home at last.
I got to thinkin' 'bout my dog and things long gone and past,
How old Tige pulled me from the creek when I'd no pulse or breath,
And how he had saved me from the chargin' bull that gored my dad to death.
As a kid I'd dream of bears and tremble to my toes
Till old Tige would come up to my bed and nudge me with his nose,
And then my fears would melt away and Tige would go lie down,
And I'd drift on back to sleep without another sound.
The big bus stopped and I got off; it was awful dark and thick with fog;
Then something gently nuzzled me and there stood Tige my dog.
I wondered if my faithful dog had met the bus each day,
And all the dreary winter nights since I'd been away.
To have Tige meet me here like this, I was really glad,
'Cause I hadn't needed Tige so much since the day they buried Dad.
Two long miles still lay ahead, but what I didn't know,
A giant dam was being built where the old road used to go.
I thank the Lord for sendin' Tige and I followed where he led,
Knowing well without his help that I'd be good as dead.
Tige inched along this way and that, goin' rough and slow,
And I could hear the water lapping at the ledges far below;
Then through the mist I saw a light and Mother in her chair,
And I reached down to pat old Tige—but he wasn't there.
"I'm thankful, Mom, you had old Tige these three lonely years.
I owe my life to him tonight;" I couldn't help my tears.
"You say you wrote me 'bout the dam, well, God was sure with us.
I didn't get your letter, Mom, but old Tige met the bus."
"I hate to tell you, son," she said, "but now you've got to know.
When you left it broke his heart; Tige died three years ago."


[Note: "Tige" is pronounced with a hard "g"--short for "Tiger" I suppose.]