What the hell is a 'salty dog'?

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Iodine
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 06:37 PM

from what my Naval friends have said a "Salty Dog" is a sailor on the high seas, a salt water fellow so to speak

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 05:59 PM

As I said this morning, in NO and elsewhere in the south a salty dog is a randy man. I will accept the other definitions, which are valid in the spheres concerned (nautical, military, etc.). But Catspaw is right, these definitions have nothing to do with the term in blues, bluegrass, or jazz.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Amos
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 05:51 PM

Candy men, salty dogs, coffee grinders, black cat bones, mojo hands, baqck-door men and jelly rolls are about as sexual as terms can get without being clinical. It has nothing to do with oceans, except the rolling balmy seas of extended physical love.

And for those who disdain vivid analogy, let me offer hte poetic couplet:

Nobody wants a baby,
When a reaeeeal ma-a-a-n can be found,
Ya been a good old wagon,
Daddy, but you do-o-o-ne broke down!!!

Regards,

A.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 05:43 PM

Like Dicho said, all the nautical and marine definitions are fine and dandy but they have nothing to do with the word used by Gary Davis, John Hurt and thousands of others in southern song! The whole nautical end doesn't play...period! Jaysus!! It's like hearing the lyric:

"Did you hear what Sister Johnson said?

Always takes a candy stick to bed..."


...and then figuring the candy stick was a peppermint stick. Ain't none too likely now is it?

Spaw

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 04:41 PM

Served in Korea, curried Corgi, very tasty, I kid you not. Look out all you Soccer fans, although the English may prefer stewed Bedlington Terrier. Paddy Joe.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 01:42 PM

Yep, Norton, especially those Marines mentioned in your last line certainly would qualify as salty dogs!

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 01:40 PM

you mean the USMC? Uncle Sams Misguided Children?

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 01:29 PM

In the Marines an "Old salt" or "Salty dog" was someone who had been in the Corps for a while, been around the world, and seen a lot of the things others hadn't. By virtue of the Germans giving the Marines the nickname "Teuflehunde" (Devildogs for our tenacity) during the battle of "Belleu Woods" and that salt was from the sea (washing one's uniforms in the salty water made them turn almost white) we used the term "Salty Dog" to mean a Marine who had been around a while and wasn't really inspection material - but was a top combat Marine.

I have no idea if this is a connection or not - but all of the above mentioned would certainly fit with an old Marine!

Let's see now - what is that verse from the Marine's Hymm????

If the Army and the Navy ever looked from Heaven's scene - - They would find their wives are sleeping - with United State's Marines. *BSEG*

Steve

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Desdemona
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 01:07 PM

Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Ralegh, et al were definitely "sea dogs"....some of the others were merely useless seamen!

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 12:55 PM

Guest is right about the usage of salty dog for British seamen (later transferred to seamen in general), but the question raised is the use of salty dog in the southern states, where songs like Salty Dog as sung by Lizzie miles, Flatt and Scruggs and others. I would suggest an independent origin.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 11:35 AM

The term can be traced to Elizabethan England. King Philip of Spain refered to Sir Francis Drake, and other English Mariners, as "Dogs of the Sea" The English were typically thrilled with the name; and after the Armada's defeat called themselves "Old Sea Dogs" shortened to Salty Dogs after years of use.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 11:01 AM

New definitions are born every day! In NOspeak, he is simply a Randy Man, enjoying every jelly roll in town. He may be a sailor, a pimp, a son of a preacher man, a deacon, a CEO or a president (Clinton comes to mind).
Transference to the male member (Chip 2447) is an obvious progression, and using the name for a salty hangover remedy is also logical.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Desdemona
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 09:17 AM

When we've been in London on a Sunday evening these last few years, we go to the Lamb & Flag on James St. (near Covent garden); it's a great 17th C. pub (Pepys, Johnson, et al drank there; they appear to have done little else!), but on Sundays for the last X number of years they've had the most terrific Dixieland jazz band--a real jam session, and the woman who sings w/them is called Mary (I think her last name is)Robertson. ANYWAY, we heard her sing a great version of "Salty Dog" last time we were there; there appear to be many variations on the theme!

Sorry to digress, but if you're ever around on a Sunday night, definitely check them out!

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST,G.K.Busch
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 03:02 AM

Traditionally a 'salty dog' is a pimp.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Bert
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 02:23 AM

If you're too lazy to read the thread and the links GUEST then I'll tell you - It's Hairy Pie.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 12:45 AM

'Salty Dog' - Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs - is in The Record Lady's All-Time Country Favorites (CLICK HERE).
~Masato

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Feb 02 - 12:02 AM

Get a record with Lizzie Miles singing "Salty Dog," if this gem from 50-60 years ago is still available. She will tell you in raucous New Orleans style just what a salty dog is.
I'm surprised that there are Americans who don't know.

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Chip2447
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 11:25 PM

From the era of the Iranian hostage crisis. Although, it works as well with Bin Ladan inserted.

"Salty dog, salty dog,
beat my meat and flog my hog.
Hey, Khomeini suck my salty dog.

Chip2447 a salty dog...the ex sailor type. I can be a nevermind....

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: khandu
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:44 PM

"Well, your salty dog, he comes around

When your sugar daddy's outta town,

Baby, let me be your salty dog"

I heard one of Mississippi John Hurt's friends (Tunk) sing this as I played the guitar. He said John used to sing that line. But it isn't on any of his recordings.

khandu

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Anahootz
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:13 PM

Great.

Now, anyone wanna volunteer for the job of telling my wife she really likes a bluegrass song about dick?

..."No, really honey it's...*duck*...No, I swear, I'm not making this up...*dodge*...see, there's these guys on the 'cat, and they all say..."

(apologies to catspaw, but I've always liked the thought of visual language)

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:11 PM

Spaw,

If you know the answer why not just post it?

I've never seen a thread so full of junk, yet you suggest reading it...

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:10 PM

Well, when I heard Dave van Ronk do "Salty Dog" in 1971 or so at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr (near Philadelphia), he said he had learned the song from Rev. Gary Davis. When he asked Rev. Davis what it meant, the reply was, "Dave, maybe I'll tell you when you're older." By the way, I think van Ronk's version is one of the best.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:08 PM

Still other threads:

Salty Dog

Salty Dog

Salty Dog Blues/Rag

Another interpretation: "The term 'salty (good, racy) dog (presumably male)' suggests a slightly off-clolor meaning for the chorus." (The New Lost City Ramblers Song Book, p. 200).

~Masato

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:07 PM

Thank you, Giac. That old joke was better made in the linked thread.

Jeez.....

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:06 PM

I don't think you'll find that a sailor is the only answer and certainly not in the context of "Salty Dog Blues!" Read the thread including the link.

Spaw

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Anahootz
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:06 PM

Thanks, 'Spaw.

I guess i was leaning towards the adolescent in me...grin

'Hootz

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: Giac
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 10:03 PM

Gin, grapefruit juice, salt and a helluva hangover. ~;o)

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:59 PM

Beat me to the link, Spaw

If you don't wish to trawl through the BS on that thread, the answer is simply: a sailor

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: catspaw49
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:56 PM

CLICK HERE

Spaw

Subject: RE: What the hell is a 'salty dog'?
From: 53
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:56 PM

I really don't know what it is either. The only time i've ever heard of it was on the Flatt and Skruggs song, maybe its a dog who loves salt, hell I don't know.

Subject: What the hell is a "salty dog"?
From: Anahootz
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 09:40 PM

I made a bluegrass compilation CD for my wife recently, and on it I included Flatt & Scruggs' version of "Salty Dog Blues".

She returned from a day at the office, and asked, "Honey, what the hell is a salty dog?"

For those unfamiliar with the tune, the chorus is "Let me be your salty dog / or I won't be your man at all / Honey let me be your salty dog."

Vaguely sexual, or is that just my inner adolescent chiming in from some dim recess of my brain...?

'Hootz