What's a 'Salty Dog?'

Subject: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: WyoWoman
Date: 08 Nov 99 - 11:49 PM

Having listened again to Rick Fielding's new CD, which has a song about "Salty Dog" in it, which is different from the Mississippi John Hurt song I heard years ago about "Salty Dog," and, I think, the Taj Mahal version as well, I was wondering just what the heck that really refers to.

What/who's a salty dog? (besides, of course, a sort of odd mixed drink involving grapefruit juice and something alcoholic...)

WyoWoman

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 08 Nov 99 - 11:53 PM

hot dog? sailor?

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 12:19 AM

I recall that Dick Greenhaus relived some of his sordid past to give this answer some time ago - I didn't understand it prior to his answer.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 12:39 AM

Oh, my JohninB....good memory. Here is a link, WW, to a previous, short thread, in which Dick speaks about the sordid parts of NYC, briefly. **BG** kat

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 12:43 AM

I guess since it's after midnight back east, Wyo, Catspaw's coming along to save me the embarrassment of explaining this to you isn't going to happen, so here it goes: a "salty dog" is a penis, or by extension, a man, a lover.

--seed

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 12:48 AM

Kat and I seemed to be posting at the same time: I guess she not only beat me to the punch, Dick's definition topped mine.

--seed

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Allan C.
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 06:55 AM

Seed, I'm LMAO on that "extension" line!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 07:15 AM

.....LMAO with you Allan!!! Gotta' say that's hard to top! Nothin, stiff or formal about Seed. And you know it wasn't an accident either since Seed would never make a boner like that; he's just an up front kinda' guy and a really great member.

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 08:05 AM

Not to get off the subject, but does anyone know what the "snake" refers to in "Black Snake Moan"? How about the banana in "Banana Boat Song"?

Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 08:07 AM

Geez Chet, there WAS a subject?

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Easy Rider
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:02 AM

I've been told that a "Salty Dog" is a Pimp.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Adrian Leach
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:37 AM

As colourful and far more entertaining as the other suggestions are, I am afraid a Salty Dog, in all the contexts I have heard or read it in, is nothing more than a sailor(more often "Salty Sea Dog"). See RLS' Treasure Island. UNLESS as a youth I totally misconstrued Long John Silver's meaning when he said he was going below decks to slap a Salty Dog ..... which rather changes the flavour of the book.

Thank you to BSEED for the insight.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:43 AM

I'm sorry, but after this thread, he'll be known as "Long John Seed."

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: WyoWoman
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:44 AM

Well, I'm tending toward the more scatological interpretation because the lyrics I'm thinking of say, "If I can't be your Candy Man, let me be your Salty Dog," which doesn't seem to have a lot to do with seafaring.

Yet another phallic reference... Men have so many ways of saying the same thing. Women so few. Hmmmm.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:52 AM

So I'm currently thinking, "Pluckin' your Pansy" could have merit there WW..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 09:55 AM

hot dog? seaman? OR seamen? , Kat scatological is what?

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 10:11 AM

That would be WyoW, not Kat, who said "scatological." Scatalogical refers to feces, poop, or doodie. I'm leaning toward "penilogical," myself.

Things seem to start out being about one thing, and frequently end up being about penises. Might it have once referred to a sailor, but been adopted as still another cute name for a wiener, schlong, trouser trout, lizard, ding-a-ling, heat-seeking-moisture-missle, etc?

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 10:17 AM

JERI!!! I'm SO ashamed..........but since you're going there, WW, the infamous Pansy Rue, has inquired about the female variety of genitalia you may have noticed. Any help there?

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 10:21 AM

WW, my friend and her boyfriend made up a term they could use in public with none the wiser. One day she finally told me what the heck she was tlakign abotu when referring to her "twidgett"! Couldn't ya just see the personal ads:

Salty Dog heat-seeks twidgett for his moisture missile! (Thanks for those Jeri!) Or...

Have I got a ding-a-ling for your twidgett! Dial 1-999-Salty Dog. Or...

Fun-loving Twidgett seeks briney canine.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 10:33 AM

Well, that'll round it out.....Pansy Rue Twidgett.

Thank you Kat, WW will be pleased...LMAO

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: kendall
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 11:31 AM

sorry to have to say so, but twidgit is a very old word. My sea faring supervisor used it many years ago. If there was a woman he didnt like, he called her a "Jeezly twidgit" How about that old nursery rhyme Old Mother Twitchit" that word was also used as a synonym when I was a small boy.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 12:22 PM

I'm never going to the hot dog stall again!! Or maybe I should go more often....

And as for female versions, my daughter delicately calls hers her "parts", usually whilst flashing them to all and sundry as she is going through the no clothes stage. I know she'll grow out of it, I'd just prefer it to be before puberty..... She's been in it for 2 years now and she's only 3 and a half!!

'The custard packet' is something I've heard it called, or the 'glue pot'. A previous chain threw up an old boyfreind who called his 'dog' Cedric, and my corresponding items 'Jemima', I really do miss him!!

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 02:47 PM

Seeking ding-a-ling for diddy-wa-diddy. I wonder...if you say you're looking for a fanny pack (butt-pack - one of those little pouch things that strap around your waist) in the UK, are you offered feminine hygiene products or a trip home with someone?

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Allan C.
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 03:01 PM

I'm fairly certain that this is not exactly what was meant in the song, but according to "The Dictionary of the American West" by Winfred Blevins, Salty Dog refers to "Anyone who's really good at his work....Also, according to other sources, a tough fellow (salty bacon or ham). Salty means 'full of spirit and fight.' When said of a hand, it's a compliment. But a horse that's salty may be mean."

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Chet W.
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 03:41 PM

Let's face it; There are certain "parts" that you could refer to with any random syllables in the proper context and everyone will know what you mean. Example: Check the rambos on that twitchet!

Am I right or wrong?, Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Chet W.
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 03:46 PM

I can't help it; I was singing to myself Arlo Guthrie's (?) "Inch by inch, row by row, God bless these seeds I sow, Gonna plow it deep and low til the rain comes a tumblin' down". I'm afraid a lot of familiar songs will take on new meanings now.

Innocently, Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: sophocleese
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 03:59 PM

Liz the Squeak, my seven year old still loves parading and dancing around the house with no clothes on, the only difference from four years ago is that he doesn't get undressed except for bath, bed and changing clothes. Oh and if there is a friend over he will modestly close the bedroom door when changing but not the bathroom door when its necessary. When he was a babe and toddler we called him Phip-phoo which made a couple laugh as they used the word phoo for the twidgett. Our daughter insists that her parts are her dinky.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 04:38 PM

dave Mallett wrote the Garden song ... but you knew that.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: DougR
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 06:21 PM

Man, this old dog is learning a lot of new stuff on this thread. "Custard packet?" "Twidget?" I guess the terms we used in the Great War are things of the past now, like "wee wee" and "ding-a-ling." My personal preference for describing a female's "privates" is "love place." But then I'm so damn old fashioned.

DougR

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 06:50 PM

Well, in an old grade school joke, Roy Roger's called his a car and asked Dale if he could park it in her garage!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 07:00 PM

Sophocleese, you may have been showing her the wrong page of the book when explaining..... We have a splendid book all ready for the day she asks where babies come from... and it isn't a Mothercare catalogue either! It's called 'Mummy laid an egg' and was banned from at least one library department I worked in because of the page 'These are some of the ways that mummies and daddies fit together....' I never found anyone to try the balloon one, but I am a girl of ample proportions... maybe the Good Year blimp, but never an ordinary balloon....

Perhaps the most distressing of her habits is to 'display' like a Sheil ne grig. Go look it up. Not nice.... Ah well, gets the air to it I suppose..

And thanks for the warning, so I have another 4 years of the nudity thing do I?

Sorry, this is getting remarkably like the unashamed gloating over kids page.

I think I would probably die laughing if someone referred to my bits as the 'love place', but then, they are so infrequently the topic of conversation, so I suppose I'm spared...

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 07:09 PM

When do we get to someone slightly older runnin' 'roun' nekkid? Could we get some volunteers here? No, not Rick or Joe........

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 07:15 PM

Spaw...now that Rog and I have the house to ourselves, for the first time in our twenty-one years together, nudity reigns; well...after a bath and first thing in the morning, at least.

LTS, I would think with that gorgeous head of hair, you might be influencing your daughter with a fair imitation of Lady Godiva now and then!**BG**

katducking&dodging!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: annamill
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 10:37 PM

Let me be your salty dog, or I won't be your man at all. Honey, let me be your salty dog.

Hmm.. Dick is right. (You devil you!) Adrian, I have to go back and read that book again now.

Love, annap

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: DougR
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 11:37 PM

Well, Liz The Squeek, enjoy a good giggle on me. Everybody needs a giggle now and then.

DougR

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 12:16 AM

well al I know was I was lookin' for some lyrics and then I thought I fell into some sort of chat room.. been real entertaining though. The best version in my opinion was the Magee Bros 'Salty Dog Blues'

I'll be checkin' back

Ray

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: WyoWoman
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 12:18 AM

Pansy Rue Twidgett.

I have FOUND my nom de plume!!!!

Or should this go back to the exotic dancer thread???

At any rate, I guess I figured "Salty Dog" was something long the lines of "Back Door Man..." But the post above talking about someone being really good at what he/she does could definitely apply. Meaning, the guy is saying he thinks he's really good at what he does and he wants the lady to give him a chance to prove it...

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 12:50 AM

According to my big, huge, old dictionary, salty refers to someone of the sea.... who makes their way upon the waves of passion; plunging the depths of the ocean blue like a trident of Poseidon; cresting and spent, shoring up for the next crashing onslaught of passionate embrace of the deep, dark recesses of the murky moist deep; sometimes, gently drifting after a stormy row, until the next time they have to unfurl and prepare to embark on another eve of glorious abandon upon the bosoms of the high seas; listening for the lucky call for a "heave-ho!"; luckily never having to drop anchor.

Not bad for someone who doesn't know the difference between her tops'l and, ahem, keel!**BG**

Ray, ya'll come back. We are a fun lot with truly gifted and passionate musicians. Didja find the lyrics you were looking for?

katlaughing

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Allan C.
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 06:15 AM

Kat, where the hell can I get a copy of THAT dictionary?!!

;-)

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Micca
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 06:38 AM

I always thought it derived from the Dogs tendency to lick and areas that might be "salty"? Well it made sense to me all these years from hearing the Flatt and Scruggs version on record in my youth and assuming it was sexual but not shagging. BTW it made us Brits LOAO when a dance craze called "the Shag" started in the US.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 09:02 AM

Allan, I'm afraid it is a personal version...the only way you can get a copy is to take all of me!**BG**

Micca, out here in the wild West, it's the cows that lick salt, sweetie. Oh, and shag? It's just a cheap, seventies styles carpeting which was really, really ugly and impossible to clean with any kind of suction.:-)

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: WyoWoman
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 09:17 AM

I wondered if the Brits were completly aghast at the new Austin Powers' film "The Spy Who Shagged Me." I was, and I'm not even a Brit (except somewhat chromzonally).

WW

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 09:21 AM

Well, he's Canadian Pansy......helps to explain a lot, dontcha' think?

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 10:21 AM

Have to report that "the Shag", by resolution of the state legislature, is the official State Dance of South Carolina. I'm sure our governor will bring that up if he's ever visiting officially in the UK.

Cautiously, Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 10:44 AM

What can I tell yuh Chet?.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Micca
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 01:54 PM

So for us Brits, forget Florida make for SC for a vaction Shag.!!!! WOW, I knew you Trans-Ponders were hospitable but thats too much.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 02:08 PM

And how do you know about my hair......? Has that naughty little vampire badger been telling tales out of school again?

And yes, the Brits were very upset about the spy who shagged me, even more so than the 'Never mind the Bollocks' album by the Sex Pistols back in 1900 and frozen to death.....

As far as shag carpet is concerned, I thought that was the red, itchy affliction found after doing said act on said carpet... Affecting mainly elbows and knees, it sometimes spreads to lower back, forhead and nose. Cure? Get a better grade of wool carpet!

Micca, isn't it time you were back in your special shaped box......?!

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: lamarca
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 04:27 PM

A couple years ago we rented the movie "Grumpy Old Men". After the closing credits, they ran a bunch of out-takes of Burgess Meredith commenting about Chuck and the attractive widow's goings on across the street. In each out-take, he used progressively funnier and funnier euphemisms - my favorite was "taking the skin canoe to Tuna-town..."

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND GERTRUDE
From: Melbert
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 04:56 PM

Johnny was playing in the garden one day
playing at cards and dice
Into the garden came little Gertrude,
Carrying three white mice
"I've got some o'them" Johnny said.
Gert said "No you've not,
but I'll bet you anything you like
I've got everything you've got!"

So Johnny lifted up his little pullover
and laid his navel bare
As he stood upstanding he said
"I bet you've not got one of them, there!"
"Oh yes I have!" she lifted up her blouse
"Yes I have" said Ger,
"And the only diff'rence 'tween mine & yours,
mine isn't covered with dirt!"

So Johnny took off his little pair of trousers
and showed her what lay beneath.
When she saw that she hadn't got one
she was overcome with grief.
She dropped her mouse, ran into the house
calling for her mum, she said
"Johnny's got something under his pants
and mummy I haven't got one".

A few minutes later she came out of the house
she didn't make a sound.
Johnny was jumping and shouting for joy
and waving his thing around.
She said " alright John, I know you've one
but I don't really mind,
'cos mummy says as long as I've got one of these
I can get one of those ANYTIME!".

The Ballad of Johnny and Gertrude, from the singing of Roaring Jelly.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: The Duck of the Irish
Date: 10 Nov 99 - 11:09 PM

If you don't know by now, don't mess with it!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 12:34 AM

Vampire badger? What vampire badger? Nope, haven't seen any around here!**BG** Nice hair, though, LTS!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 02:58 AM

What has he been showing you!!!!!!

I'll pay almost nothing to keep it between us....

I'm going to have some words of low semantic content with our Micca....

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:39 AM

Getting ready to bend an elbow a bit, too, it looked like.**BG**

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From:
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 09:35 AM

Here's one I forgot, popular around here: "the One-Eyed Trouser Moccasin" (Moccasin refers to a snake, eg. water moccasin, and not the shoe.)

We're a colorful people, we sing we dance, Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 10:00 AM

Oh F**K, not THAT picture!!!!!

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Chet W.
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 12:46 PM

skin-flute, meat whistle, the nether-eye, yodel in the valley

Clearly a book must be published, Chet

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 01:26 PM

And, I just thought it was a banana in the pocket, unless of course, you were glad to see me!**BG**

LTS, not sure what you're talking about?! Your hand wasn't actually on the bottle.:-) And, you looked fine to me.Hehehe

katduckingforcover

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 02:08 PM

You got this pix Kat? I have a nice one of Jeri "clamming" with her feet.......and,uh..........

Spaw

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Micca
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 03:37 PM

I am taking bids to publish the offending pic of LtS at barbaras gallery and counterbids from Liz NOT to.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: bbc
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 03:47 PM

Stuffy warning--Barbara doesn't usually print *questionable* photos, except perhaps at the request of the photo-ee.

best, anyway,

bbc

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Micca
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 06:24 PM

Who said there was anything questionable in the picture? Its all in the mind I tell you,The one you really want to see, which sadly no longer exists, is Liz the Squeak having grapes squashed between her toes towards the end of a very drunken dinner.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 06:30 PM

iT's okay, bbc, nothing risque about it. It's just all that HAIR!*smile*

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 07:22 PM

Ah yes, I remember that dinner, you were picking raisins off the dresser top for months afterwards, weren't you....

And if is that picture, I don't mind where it goes, I thought it was the one where I'm wearing a tiny apron and a big smirk...... Now that is DEFINATELY a no no piccy, for your safety if nothing else!!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Micca
Date: 11 Nov 99 - 08:09 PM

The apron pic was taken at the Rocky Horror show birthday party they threw in my local Pub, everyone turned up in costume,'nuff said.Are you SURE I can't put it in the gallery or would it damage my health?

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Terry Allan Hall
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 09:32 AM

Yup!

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 11:40 AM

I don't know about it, but I certainly would!!! Remember the Christmas Pudding that took 30 mins to extinguish....?

And if you have never had grapes squeezed between your toes, try it, you might like it......! Training groups can be organised in London if you are interested.....

LTS

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: manylodges
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 11:10 PM

chet you forgot grisle whisle

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Allan C.
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 07:17 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: 3-4 time
Date: 05 Apr 00 - 09:00 PM

David Holt interviewed the person who wrote the song on FIRE ON THE MOUTAIN.HE said that it was a sausage preserved in brine.They were served from a big jar on the bar in a beer joint. You people have lived a sheltered life.

Subject: RE: What's a 'Salty Dog?'
From: Wavestar
Date: 06 Apr 00 - 08:03 PM

On an amusing side note, the Salty Dog Rag is the official dance of Dartmouth College... sort of fitting, given the Dartmouth students I hang out with...

-J