Subject: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Animaterra Date: 21 Jan 98 - 08:47 PM I'm looking for the source and verses to a song whose refrain goes: Everytime I go downtown/ somebody kicks my dog around/ Makes no difference if he's a hound,/They gotta stop kicking my dog around! |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Barry Date: 21 Jan 98 - 09:10 PM The Hound Dog (or Dawg) Song is in the DT. From the Folk Songs Of North America by A Lomax "Some say The Hound Dawg Song, a favourite Ozark Mt. song, orignated before the civil was, when a country boy named Zeke Parish had a tussel with a townie who had kicked his dog. Old Aaron Weatherman, Swan Post Office, Taney County, Missouri, concurs- 'I was there & knowed Zeke & his paw & the hound too'. Some of his neighbors laugh at ol Zeke & say that the song is a recently composed piece, while others swear that Daniel Boone brought the song to Missouri. It became universally popular at the time when Arkansas'a favourite son (Bill Clinton ?) Champ Clark, who was a candidate for the V.P. of the US, used it as a campain song. Since that time civic groups & clubs in both Arkansas & Missouri have claimed it for their state. The tune is an old fiddlers' favourite, Sandy Land or Sally Anne". Barry |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Dale Rose Date: 22 Jan 98 - 03:38 AM It was recorded by Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers as You Gotta Quit Kicking My Dawg Around , probably in the late 20s, and is available on Rounder 1023, Kickapoo Medicine Show (cassette only~~unfortunately, though if you ask, Rounder might be able to dig up an lp somewhere). This would mean that it was known in North Georgia as well. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Jan 98 - 04:18 AM I'm pleased to announce that "The Hound Dog Song" is available on the Folk-Legacy CD, "Golden Ring: A Gathering of Friends Making Music." I think there are four Golden Ring CD's out now. Each is a wonderful collection of (mostly) traditional songs. The Folk-Legacy Web site is http://www.folklegacy.com/ -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Earl Date: 22 Jan 98 - 09:05 AM Thanks Joe, I remember that Golden Ring album from the 60's but couldn't find it on CD. I thought it was lost forever. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Roy K Date: 27 Jan 98 - 07:43 AM I suppose some songs just stick with folks. A Martin friend from a Tucson pioneer family used to sing a slighlty different verse: Every time I go to town People keep kicking my dog around I don't care if he is a hound You gotta quit kicking my dog around |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca Date: 27 Jan 98 - 07:46 PM I always knew it as:
Every time I go to town I used to sing it to my old dog, who because she was a bit of a thief when it came to food had a few boots in the butt in her time. I always thought it was just a bit of childhood doggerel (no pun) and had no idea that it was so widespread. I have heard the tune on the fiddle but just assumed that the fiddler was playing that hound dog song. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: torvald2@aol.com Date: 25 Feb 98 - 09:02 PM there is also a recording of this song by the Dry Branch Fire Squad. "every time i go to town, the boys keep kickin my dog around, makes no difference if'n he is a hound , they oughta quit kickin my dog around |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Animaterra Date: 25 Feb 98 - 09:13 PM I had long ago heard it on Golden Ring, too. Thanks again as usual, everyone! |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Garyr@uniserve.com Date: 16 Aug 98 - 02:31 AM I have been thinking about this song for a few years and was wondering if anyone has the "complete" words ? |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Gene Date: 16 Aug 98 - 11:48 AM Don't have the "complete words" but have the complete song by The New Christy Minstrels.... The New Chrisry Minstrels sing and play COWBOYS and INDIANS. - LP CS 9103... "They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around"... Will post them tomorrow....Gene |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Al Price Date: 04 Dec 99 - 12:06 PM There's also a great version of this recorded by The Piney Creek Weasels. It was their trademark tune for a number of years. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Musicman Date: 04 Dec 99 - 03:46 PM the song is also on Bill Staines release (available at Folk Legacy) called "The Happy Wanderer" his Family/kids album..... |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Stewie Date: 04 Dec 99 - 04:30 PM It was also on a 1970s album by an Irish duo, Tom Madden and Frank Warren - 'The Little Thatched Cottage'. They called it 'Houndog Song' and had learned it from a Dublin mandolin player, Kevin Beggan - the song certainly moved around. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Jeri Date: 04 Dec 99 - 04:48 PM I heard it "Every time I go to town, the boys all kick my dog around," same as the one in the DT. The song reminds me a lot of "I'll Tell Me Ma." If you sing the verses of both songs together, they work. (Same chords.) |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: kendall Date: 04 Dec 99 - 05:08 PM Me and Lem Briggs and old Bill Brown took a load of "corn" to town Old Jim dog that onery old cuss, he just naturally followed us. As we passed by Johnsons store a passal of yaps came out the door Jim he scooted behind a box with all of them fellas throwin' rocks. They tied a can to old Jims tail and ran him past the county jail That just naturally made us sore, Lem he cussed and Bill he swore
Bill seen his duty there and then, he lit into them gentlemen |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Fred Burns (burnsfg@cadvision.com) Date: 04 Dec 99 - 07:06 PM I heard it sung by Buffy St. Marie, with her also playing on a bow type mouth harp. I have played it on a jew's harp. No idea about origins, etc. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Doug Date: 04 Dec 99 - 09:47 PM Oak Ash & Thorn performed it for many years, pretty much exactly as kendall posted it. Dale brought it to us; he claimed to have learned it in his native Alabama. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Charcloth Date: 04 Dec 99 - 11:25 PM I heard the song was written by Ben. Harrison. Suposedly it was his campain song as he ran for president. The story goes that he had this old mangie coon hound that he took with him as he campained in his early years and the opposite candidates ragged on Harrison so he wrote this song and carried with him through the years. Lem Briggs and Bill Brown were supposedly his running mates. Does any one have any difinate info on this or Barry's story? |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Frank Hamilton Date: 05 Dec 99 - 01:09 PM Erik Darling recorded it for his Vanguard album called True Religion. Frank |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Gint Date: 05 Dec 99 - 03:27 PM This has been played on mainstream radio in the uk within the last two months, I'm sure because I was on the M4 and cursing the lack of pencil & paper |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: kendall Date: 05 Dec 99 - 10:32 PM patience Gint..now all you have to do is hit "print" |
Subject: Lyr Add: YA GOTTA QUIT KICKING MY DOG AROUN' From: Stewie Date: 07 Dec 99 - 08:59 PM As Dale pointed out above, the first recorded version of the song was by Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers - 4 January 1926 (Co 15084). Charles Wolfe and Mark Wilson wrote the following informative note to the song in the liner notes to Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers 'The Kickapoo Medicine Show' Rounder LP 1023: "This pleasant urban reflection of rurality was copyrighted in 1912 by Webb M. Oungst and Cy Perkins, a pseudonym for Mrs John Stark, wife of the famous pioneer publisher of ragtime. Its melody derives from the 'Sally Ann' family of tunes but the lyrics reflect the practice of an experienced literary hand, for all its unwashed pretentions. The populist Missouri Democrat, Champ Clark, employed this ditty as his theme that year in his unsuccessful bid for the presidential nomination against Woodrow Wilson. The song became nationally known through this exposure and has been seriously proposed as the state song of Missouri. It may be doubted, however, whether the Skillet Lickers had Champ Clark in mind when they recorded it in 1926 …" The Skillet Lickers (or, more specifically, their lead singer, Riley Puckett) sang (pretty close to the version posted above by Kendall):
Me and old Lem Briggs and old Bill Brown
Chorus:
As we driv' past the country store
They tied a tin can to his tail Most probably because of his notoriously poor memory, Riley omitted to sing the expected finale:
Me and Lem Briggs and old Bill Brown
Jim seed his duty there and then Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: margaret Date: 07 Dec 99 - 10:31 PM Jonathan Edwards used part of it in combination with a take-off on "Old Blue" on his 1987 children's album, "Little Hands." He calls the song "Old Jim" (you guessed it, the rhyme is "he's a good dog, him."). |
Subject: Lyr Add: THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKIN' MY DAWG AROUND From: Dale Rose Date: 17 Sep 00 - 01:13 PM Well, here's one more. I recently ran across the sheet music and some additional information for THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKIN' MY DAWG AROUN'. The info is not exactly as Stewie quotes from Charles Wolfe, but I will give it in its entirety, without any comment as to authenticity. There is one obvious error in calling the author Mrs. William Stark rather than Mrs. John Stark. I did not find an author to attribute it to.
THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKIN' MY DAWG AROUN' Words by Webb M. Oungst; music by Cy Perkins [Mrs. John Stark], 1912. Copyright, 1912, by Stark Music Ptg. and Pub. Co. Copyright assigned 1912 to M. Witmark & Sons. 1. Wunst me 'n' Lem Briggs 'n' ol' Bill Brown, Tuk a load of cawn to town, An' ol' Jim-dawg (the onry cuss) He jes' nachelly follered us. CHORUS: Ev'rytime I come to town, The boys keep kickin' my dawg aroun'; Makes no dif'rence if he is a houn', They gotta quit kickin' my dawg aroun'. 2. As we driv' past Sam Johnson's store, Passel o' yapes kem out th' door, When Jim he stops to smell a box, They shied at him a bunch o' rocks. CHORUS 3. They tied a tin can to his tail, An' run him a-past the county jail, 'N' that plumb nachelly makes me sore, 'N' Lem he cussed 'n' Bill he swore. CHORUS 4. Me 'n' Lem Briggs 'n' ol' Bill Brown, We lost no time in a jumpin' dowon, An' we wiped them ducks up on the groun' Fer kickin' my ol' dawg aroun'. CHORUS 5. Folks say a dawg kain't hold no grudge, But wunst, when I got too much budge, Them town ducks tried to do me up, But they didn't count on ol' Jim-pup. CHORUS 6. Jim seed his duty thar an' then, An' he lit into them gentlemen, And he shore mussed up the cote house square With rags 'n' meat 'n' hide 'n' hair! CHORUS |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Dale Rose Date: 17 Sep 00 - 01:24 PM Found her full name, should have done that BEFORE posting! CARRIE Bruggeman Stark. (Reference also listed her husband as William ~~ perhaps he was John William??) |
Subject: RE: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Mar 06 - 12:16 AM You can see the sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Charley Noble Date: 30 Mar 06 - 09:00 PM Always loved those last two lines: He sure messed up the courthouse square With rags and meat and hide and hair. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 31 Mar 06 - 09:04 AM There was another recording not mentioned here with another verse that I have never seen in print or heard anywhere else. I ran across the record about 30 years ago in the Ozark Folk Center archive. Now I have to find it for my own satisfaction if nothing else. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Goose Gander Date: 31 Mar 06 - 10:31 AM It appears in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection as Hound Dog Song as sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on March 11, 1970 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: katlaughing Date: 31 Mar 06 - 11:47 AM Arkie, do you remember the words? I think this is on one of our old 78s and I know my dad put it on one of his tapes. Might be that version,I don't know, but will try to post what I've got, IF it's different from the rest, in a day or two. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Dale Date: 31 Mar 06 - 10:36 PM Arkie, would it be Golden Ring (George and Gerry Armstrong, Ed Trickett, Howie Mitchell, Win Stracke, etc) on Folk Legacy 16? That seems to fit your description. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 01 Apr 06 - 12:06 AM The version I am referring to is much older than the Golden Ring recording. I believe it was on an early 78. I will try to find it tomorrow. The words were much the same as posted above except for the last verse which was new to me. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Jim Dixon Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:22 AM The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project lists these early recordings: Byron Harlan (tenor), THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKIN' MY DAWG AROUND, Columbia A-1150, 02/??/12. American Qt & B. Harlan, THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKING MY DOG, Victor 17065, 3/14/1912. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Dale Date: 02 Apr 06 - 01:39 PM Here's the Byron G. Harlan & The American Quartet version at archive.org http://www.archive.org/details/ByronGHarlanwithAmericanQuartet Find the 2.3M link on the page, right click and save. By the way, archive.org is a worthwhile place to visit. Just plan on being there a while! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Arkie Date: 02 Apr 06 - 03:05 PM I believe one of the Harlan versions is what I have heard. Should know for sure tomorrow. The additional verse is pretty much as I remembered it in the Harlan and Quartet recording. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: Arkie Date: 04 Apr 06 - 08:54 PM The 78 record of They Gotta Quit Kicking My Dog Around in the Folk Center Archive has been found and it is the Victor recording by Byron Harlan and the American Quartet. Thanks to Jim Dixon, Dale, and all for the research and suggestions. My mind is now at ease. For the present. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Rikki Date: 04 Apr 06 - 11:54 PM I am a great fan of ragtime and was lucky to have known The St. Louis Ragtimers when I lived in the midwest. One of their recordings has THEY GOTTA QUIT KICKIN MY DAWG AROUND They were a great group and Trebor Tichenor, who has written many great 'rag' songs was the piano player. I no longer play them because they are 33s, but I did copy them on to tape so I can still indulge. That is a great song. Sure brings back a lot of nice memories. Glad I came by for a visit. Nice site. I'll be back. Rikki |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Dale Date: 05 Apr 06 - 12:18 PM Trebor Tichenor, now there's a name out of the past. Ragtime/St.Louis/Tichenor, hard to think of any two of those words without the third. TT has some CDs out, just do a Google search and a bunch of good leads will turn up, including CD Baby. Getting back to the Byron Harlan versions, anyone who is interested can download the other version at archive.org as well. You'll find it on this page, along with a bunch more of his songs. http://www.archive.org/details/ByronGHarlan This is sort of a shortcut page instead of a song specific page like the earlier link I gave, just slide down the page and right click to download the song or songs that you want. Incidentally, I think that in view of all the other facts we have about the song, the date of 1904 assigned by archive.org must be incorrect. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Dale Date: 05 Apr 06 - 12:42 PM Ah, about that incorrect date at archive.org, I should have checked back to Jim's post of 02 Apr 06 - 08:22 AM, where he clearly states that Harlan's Columbia recording was also from 1912, with just a month or so earlier release date. This page http://www.archive.org/browse.php?collection=78rpm&field=%2Fmetadata%2Fcreator at archive.org lists the entire list of performers available ~~ an impressive list. Here is just a random copy and paste from the list # Farber Sisters (1) # Fisk University Jubilee Quartet (1) # Fletcher Henderson (1) # Florodora Girls (1) # Frances White (1) # Frank Burbeck (1) # Frank C. Stanley (1) # Frank Crumit (1) # Frank Harris (1) # Frank Kamplain (1) # Frank Kennedy (1) # Frank Mazziota (1) # Frank Pollock & Henrietta Wakefield (1) # Frank Stanley & Elise Stevenson (1) # Frank Stanley & Grace Nelson (1) # Frank Stanley & Harry MacDonough (1) # Frank Stanley & Henry Burr (1) It will be well worth your time to explore there. Guaranteed. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody kicks my dog around From: GUEST,Rikki Date: 06 Apr 06 - 12:19 AM Thanks Dale! I will explore the sites. We went to see the St. Louis Ragtimers 2 or 3 times every week and became good friends with Al Stricker, who was also a high school teacher, and the lead singer/banjo player. The five guys who made up the group were all past perfect in the talent department. I don't know if you have ever seen them in person but Trebor, who was pretty large. amd very young, would sit like a rock without moving for every set. They were on Gaslight Square for a few years then moved on to a great, old side wheeler on the Missippi. They were greatly missed when we moved to Ireland but then the Traditional Irish took up where they left off. I love the liveireland.com site that plays great music 24-7. There are a very nice group of chatters there also. Give it a listen. The d.js. are usually there live from 11 am. est. They answer questions that the chatters post to them about music and nonsense. The music is really stellar. :) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST,Rikki Date: 10 Apr 06 - 12:42 PM I did a search on the yahoo site and a lot of great information comes up on the Ragtimers from St. Louis. Too much to copy in here. Their own web page is really nice. Rikki |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: Atwaterkent Date: 09 Jun 09 - 04:06 PM Byron Harlan recorded this song for various labels and media in the early 20th century. The first media was on 2 minute cylinder records. These limited the verses to the song. Later 4 minute cylinders and 78 RPM disc records allowed more verses. The first recording was in 1912. Link to SB cylinder preservation of this song. http://cylinders.library.ucsb.edu/search.php?queryType=@attr%201=1016&query=dog&num=1&start=7&sortBy=&sortOrder=ia They Gotta Quit Kickin' my Dawg Aroun' (Missouri Hound Song) Byron Harlan, 1912 Once Me, Lem Briggs an' ol' Bill Brown Took a load of corn to town; And old Jim dawg, the ornery cuss, He just naturally follered us. Ev'ry time I come to town The boys keep kickin' my dawg aroun'; Makes no diff'rence if he is a houn', They gotta quit kickin' my dawg aroun'. As we driv' past Sam Johnson's store Passel of yaps came out the door; When Jim he stops to smell a box They shied at him a bunch of rocks. Makes no diff'rence if he is a houn', They gotta quit kickin' my dawg aroun'. They tied a tin can to his tail An' run him a-past the county jail; And that plum naturally makes me sore, And Lem he cussed, an' Bill he swore. Folks say a dog can't hold no grudge. But once when I got too much budge; Them town ducks tried to do me up, But they didn't count on old Jim pup. Ev'ry time I come to town The boys keep kickin' my dawg aroun'; Makes no diff'rence if he is a houn', They gotta quit kickin' my dawg aroun'. Jim see'd his duty thar an' then, And he lit into them gentlemen; And he shore mussed up the court-house squa'w (square) With rags an' meat an' hide an' ha'w (hair). Every time I come to town The boys keep kickin' my dawg aroun'; Makes no difference if he is a houn', They gotta quit kickin' my dawg aroun |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST Date: 05 Sep 09 - 11:51 PM I grew up hearing this song all the time. We are the Aurora Houn Dawgs and this is our fight song. My high school band director told us some of the history twenty-some years ago and since then I've been even more protective of our Dawg, but I had no idea there were so many verses. I thought it was just a little ditty the Infantry fellas came up with when they found their dog! I saw a couple of references to Springfield and Branson, so some of you have been within 30 or 40 miles of us, but even if you'd heard someone mention the AHS Houn Dawgs, you wouldn't have any reason to make the connection without being at one of our games where the fight song was played. I've downloaded the Byron G Harlan recording and plan to take it to school with me Tuesday morning to play for some of our students. Thanks for all the info! |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST,DWR Date: 06 Sep 09 - 12:36 AM Thanks for that, Auroragirl. (who forgot to sign her name, but there it is to keep her out of trouble) I wasn't aware of the connection with the Aurora team mascot, but I certainly will add it to my store of valuable information that I never know when I will need it again. If you happen back by here and would like the Skillet Licker's version, I will email it to you. dale8r AT hotmail DOT com |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST,Cave Dave Date: 12 Jan 10 - 03:49 PM I love this song. My dad who was born in Missouri in 1897 used to sing it. Don't know where he learned it. I also saw an internet reference which attributed the song to the great minstrel writer James Bland (of Carry Me Back To Old Virginny fame) This contradicts some of the other origins that I've seen. Does anyone know anything more about this possible collection to Bland or where it might have come from? |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: katlaughing Date: 12 Jan 10 - 04:13 PM Welcome to the Mudcat, Rikki, and thanks for the Irish music info/link. Welcome to you, also, Cave Dave. I can finally check my dad's tape as I know he had this song on it. He called it the "Hound Dog" song. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: beeliner Date: 13 Jan 10 - 11:58 AM Gid Tanner's version is avaialble on a wonderful anthology, "Doggone Country", on the rather obscure CMH label, catalog no. CD-6273. Also included: "Where has My Little Dog Gone?" [aka "Wee Dog Waltz"] by the Hoosier Hotshots - (in 4/4 time - outrageous!) "Tennessee Hound Dog" by the Osbourne Brothers "Dog" by the Eddie Adcock Band - (a gem). "Bull Dog Down in Sunny Tennessee" by Dock Walsh and the Carolina Tar Heels "Old Rattler" by Grandpa Jones "Dad Gave My Dog Away" by T. Texas Tyler - (alone worth the price of the CD.) "Hound Dog" by the Hoosier Hotshots "Old Blue" by the Louisiana Honeydrippers "I Found My Best Friend in the Dog Pound" by Burl Ives "Fox Chase" by Earl Taylor and the Stony Mountain Boys "The Poodle Dog Song" by Jimmie Davis "Old Shep" by the Stonemans "Oh Where Is My Little Dog Gone" by Al Hopkins and the Bucklebusters - (not as good as the Joe Foss version, but at least it's in waltz time.) |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST Date: 17 Jan 11 - 06:51 PM Lomax's Folk Songs Of North America says: "It became universally popular at the time when Arkansas's favourite son, Champ Clark, who was candidate for the presidency of the United States, used it as a campaign song." Must be a typo there 'cuz Champ Clark was born in Kentucky and was a Representative of Missouri. Nonetheless, this song is now in my repertoire. What a fun old-timey tune! |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: Jim Dixon Date: 18 Jan 11 - 07:19 PM You can also download the original sheet music in PDF form at Mississippi State University. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST Date: 04 Jan 12 - 01:45 PM Those are the words to "They Gotta Quit Kickin My Dog Around" ' two versions on You Tube, one by the Skillet Lickers in 1926 with my distant (great?)cousin Clayton McMichen on the fiddle. Guess it isn't known who originally wrote it? if you know let me know-Thanks LBClements@aol.com |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Aroun' From: GUEST Date: 14 Apr 13 - 03:18 AM The New Christy Minstrels version I had an old dog and his name was Jake I found him out in the old canebrake I figured he'd make a real good hound As soon as he learned his way around What's that son what have you got He's blueticked gwat* and Lord knows what Pretty soon word got spread around Billy Joe's found the Lord knows now Ooooh Every time I go to town The boys keep kickin' my dog around Makes no difference if he is a hound They gotta quit kickin' my dog around So I took Jake out and schooled him hard, but he chased Ma's ducks all around the yard He chased her chickens and a rabbit and a deer and he chewed on the neighbor's milking cows ear We took Jake to run a racoon, but he lead us straight to the town saloon While the Sheriff sat there in tremblin' fear Jake chewed his star and he drank his beer Ooooh Every time I go to town The boys keep kickin' my dog around Makes no difference if he is a hound You gotta quit kickin' my dog around So Jake I said your my best friend We'll stick together till the end When under the window where Ma had sat We spotted the practice of a mountain cat Jake took off to doggy scare He bellered that cat from here to there When all of them fellows showed up from town To hear that cat and that crazy hound My Jake he had that critter treed The boys all looked and smiled at me Away up high on the limb he sat My mother's precious calico cat Ooooooh Every time I go to town The boys keep kickin' my dog around Makes no difference if he is a hound You gotta quit kickin' my dog around (Come on you guys) Every time I go to town The boys keep kickin' my dog around Makes no difference if he is a hound You gotta stop kickin' my dog around (You hear what I tell ya) Every time I go to town The boys keep kickin' my dog around Makes no difference if he is a hound You gotta stop kickin' my dog around *Though there are other definitions for this word, the definition that makes sense in this context is this: The mythological gwat is a large furry red haired rodent that slinks behind pubs and is often associated with hay bales. Mostly active towards sunset, these highly polygynous creatures have an eary call that most closely resembles a gurgling pump. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST Date: 01 Apr 17 - 07:54 PM Am I dreaming or did the Byrds do this song too? Of course if it was on the "Golden Ring" record I heard it and still have it, but I distinctly remember it being (briefly) on top 40 radio when the Byrds were big. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST,Bill Salter Date: 03 Jan 18 - 09:07 PM ‘Quit Kickin My Dog’ Around, was performed by The Seaway Singers in Canada in 1964 on the CTV. “Let’s Sing Out” show hosted by Oscar Brand. Al Cromwell & The Brothers Four we’re also on the show. This version was arranged by the Seaway Singers, with the addition of a chorus. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST,Bill Salter Date: 03 Jan 18 - 09:12 PM Chorus: “Well you can lock me up in the County jail, Tear my stillhouse down; You can steal my wife, you can take my life... But you gott quit kickin my dog around...” |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST,Chuck Sears Date: 14 Jan 18 - 02:15 AM We had this song on a 78 RPM record in the late 1920s. Don't remember who performed it or what label the record was, or what was on the other side. But that particular recording was mostly instrumental. Especially fiddle and Jew's harp. I think the only lyrics sung on that recording were: "Every time I come to town, you boys go to kickin' my dog aroun'. It makes no diff'rence if he is a houn'. You gotta quit kickin' my dog aroun'". As I recall, that was sung twice, with instrumental in between, before, and after. It's interesting to learn from the commenters here that there were a lot of other lyrics and a real story behind it. It wasn't one of my favorite records, but I played it a lot because the fiddle and Jew's harp music were pretty unique. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST,Truman Price Date: 02 Feb 23 - 11:54 AM When I used to hang around some with Miriam Stafford and with the Crabgrass Family in Berkeley in the early 60's they sang the song; I made a couple of verses that seemed to work, my fav was "Every night, just about dark, My dog goes out and he starts to bark; Raises more ruckus than Noah's ark, he sure has fun when he starts to bark!" -- these days, I sometimes sing it, with fiddle, for Nick the Newfie. He lives it (tells the coyotes to shut up, and they do). |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST,The Og Date: 02 Feb 23 - 01:06 PM Learned it from Bill Salter & the Quarrymen (a Canadian 60s group. Their version (as tweaked by me) was... Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around (D) 1 6m 1 5 1 Every time I go to town, boys keep kickin' my dog around, 6m 1 5 1 Makes no difference if he’s a hound, they gotta quit kickin' my dog around. 1 4 1 Well you kin lock me up in the county jail, 5 Tear my still house down,_ 1 4 1 You kin take my wife, you kin take my life, 5 1 But you gotta quit kickin' my dog around. Well, me 'n Lem Briggs 'n ol' Bill Brown, we took a load of corn to town, My ol' Jim dog, bein' an orn'ry ol' cuss, well, he just natcherly followed us. As we drift' past that Johnson store, a passle o' yaps came out the door, Ol' Jim, he scooted behind a box, when all them fellas started throwin' rocks. Well… ------------------------------ They tied a can around his tail, ‘n run him past that county jail, Well, that just nacherly made me sore, ol’ Lem, he cussed and Bill he swore. Well, me 'n Lem Briggs 'n ol' Bill Brown, we lost no time in gettin' on down, Whupped them fellas on the ground, for kickin' my ol' dog Jim around. Well… ------------------------------- Ol' Jim, he seen his duty then, he lit right into them gentlemen, He shore messed up that courthouse square, with rags, 'n meat, 'n hide, n' hair. Well… |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST Date: 08 Sep 23 - 09:28 PM SO funny...I dunno how many years its been since your post, but I have an obnoxious German Shepard I play this song for.... I tell her I'm plaaying her song, and she jumps on me and starts grabbing my arms until I come play. THe New Christy Minstrel version. That is the song I mean. THe old variations...I don't even care for. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: Lighter Date: 09 Sep 23 - 09:01 AM St. Louis Post-Dispatch (March 24, 1912): "It was out in New Mexico [said John H. Curran, former immigration commissioner] some 20 years ago. I was with some fellows on a ranch, and one of them, who was from Missouri, was the life of the party. He played the banjo and sang ‘Dinah Had a Wooden Leg,’ and as sure as you live, the tune he sang it to was the was the very tune of the dog song. And sometimes at the end of the ‘Dinah’ verse, he would sing this line, repeated two or three times: Boys all kick my dog aroun’. “And then, with the final twang of his banjo strings, he would end with: Better quit kickin’ my dog around’. ...[The dog song] goes with ‘Sally Gooden,’ ‘Sugar in de Gourd,’ ‘Old Tom Wilson,’ and ‘Turkey and [sic] de Straw.’” "Dinah Had a Wooden Leg" (like "Sal's Got a Meat Skin") is one more name for the tune "Sally Ann." |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: GUEST Date: 08 Sep 23 - 09:28 PM SO funny...I dunno how many years its been since your post, but I have an obnoxious German Shepard I play this song for.... I tell her I'm plaaying her song, and she jumps on me and starts grabbing my arms until I come play. THe New Christy Minstrel version. That is the song I mean. THe old variations...I don't even care for. |
Subject: RE: Origin: They Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dog Around From: Lighter Date: 09 Sep 23 - 09:01 AM St. Louis Post-Dispatch (March 24, 1912): "It was out in New Mexico [said John H. Curran, former immigration commissioner] some 20 years ago. I was with some fellows on a ranch, and one of them, who was from Missouri, was the life of the party. He played the banjo and sang ‘Dinah Had a Wooden Leg,’ and as sure as you live, the tune he sang it to was the was the very tune of the dog song. And sometimes at the end of the ‘Dinah’ verse, he would sing this line, repeated two or three times: Boys all kick my dog aroun’. “And then, with the final twang of his banjo strings, he would end with: Better quit kickin’ my dog around’. ...[The dog song] goes with ‘Sally Gooden,’ ‘Sugar in de Gourd,’ ‘Old Tom Wilson,’ and ‘Turkey and [sic] de Straw.’” "Dinah Had a Wooden Leg" (like "Sal's Got a Meat Skin") is one more name for the tune "Sally Ann." |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |