The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #21389   Message #1254392
Posted By: BanjoRay
23-Aug-04 - 08:16 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Hound Dog?
Subject: Lyr Add: HOUND DOG (James Smith & Katie Lee)
The first record I ever bought as a teenager was 'Hound Dog' in the mid fifties. I took the 78 home and couldn't believe my ears - it wasn't Elvis but Vaughan Monroe singing the following ditty, from "The Toughest Man In Arizona" - 1952.
Lesson - read the label proprly!
Cheers
Ray

Hound Dog
(James Smith & Katie Lee)

chorus:   Hound dog, bay at the moon.
Lay back your long ears; sing a sad tune.
Lift up your long head and bay at the moon.
Hound dog, bay at the moon.

My crops are all ruined and my taters have rot.
No corn in the bin and no beans in the pot.
Ain't no kind of trouble that I haven't got,
    Hound dog, bay at the moon.

Got holes in my socks just as big as a barn
Can't sew them up 'cause the dern things won't darn
Can't sew them up 'cause the dern things won't darn
    Hound dog, bay at the moon.

My hound dog is weary, his coat has turned gray.
Now all he's good for is to scratch fleas and bay.
Now all he's good for is to scratch fleas and bay.
    Hound dog, bay at the moon.

Rotten potatoes and a dirty tow sack,
Pain in my belly and a crick in my back
Pain in my belly and a crick in my back,
    Hound dog, bay at the moon.

That the Lord should forget me, it brings my heart pain
I guess he's forgotten how to make it to rain,
I guess he's forgotten how to make it to rain,
    Hound dog, bay at the moon.