Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin' Dog

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SHEEP-KILLIN' DOG
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 01:26 PM

THE SHEEP-KILLIN' DOG

Hae ye heard o' the dog that's been killin' the sheep,
How he baffled the watchers, and gae them the slip?
Sum says it's ne dog, but the ghost ov a glutton,
That when upon earth had a strng tyest for mutton.

CHORUS: He's a bloodthirsty villin,
We'll hunt him and kill him,
And send his skin up te Newcastle museem.

Sum says it's a wolf just cum doon frae the hills,
To tyest a' the flesh meat they hev aboot Sheels;
Jack Proctor declares that he saw the beest runnin,
An' sweers 'twas the deevil or else 'twas a yungin.

Chorus

Sum says it's a beest that nebody can tyem,
A laffin High Anna aw think is the nyem;
What iver it be, deevil, ghost, or wild beest,
It's clear it delights on gud mutton te feast.

Chorus

He beats the bowld rifles, the pollis an' aw,
They sweer sic a beest in thor lives they neer saw;
He prowls oot at neets an' thor shanks he suin cracks,
An' leeves them caud deed on the broad o' thor backs.

Chorus

Byeth aud wives an' yungins wi' greef the tyel lairns,
And feere the greet beest shud fall foul o' the bairns;
The perambulators they darn't set oot,
For feer they fall in wiv the sheep-killin' brute

Chorus

We've h'ard of hobgoblin a witch, an' a warlock,
But surely he's givin the butchers pilgarlick.
Noo for the reward aw wad he ye te strive,
And bring him te Shgeels either deed or alive.

Chorus

Edward Elliott, 1862


In October 1862 considerable alarm was felt by the farmers near North Shields, on discovering morning after morning that severala of their sheep had been worried and left dead in the fields. Suspicion fell on several poor dogs but, although closely watched, the offence ould not be brought home to them. One dog was chased (on suspicion) all the way from Shields to his master's house in Percy Street. Thye offender is still at liberty.- Note, 1862

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Gypsy
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:06 PM

Since it was sheep killing dogs that put us out of business, this song strikes very close to home. Not wild dogs, either.........peoples pets. thanks for posting the lyrics!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Joybell
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 06:29 PM

Pet dogs got our little mob too. Thanks from us. And thank you Edward Elliot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Louie Roy
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 07:13 PM

I too lost several head of registereed Ewes to the neighbors pets one night 15 years ago,I learned a valuable lesson and since then I don't call animal control I call the neighbors and tell them to come and get their dead dog off of my property and since then the word has finally gotten around and in the past 5 years I haven't had a dog on my place.It's kinda funny what a small amount of lead applied in the right place will do

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 08:22 PM

John Williamson's song "Just a Dog" addresses a similar theme. The dog in the song is half kelpi and half dingo. Supposedly it's based on a true story.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Rapparee
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 09:32 AM

A number of years ago a pack of feral dogs killed and partially ate a baby, back in my home county in Illinois.

A bounty was placed on the dogs. I know that they were killed, but that bounty was never claimed. Some of the dogs weren't actually feral, but pets and farm dogs that "got mixed up with a bad crowd."

I have no sympathy for people who drop pets off and believe "the farmers will take care of them." I think that these people should be dropped off -- in a totally wilderness area, becasue I've certain that "the animals will take care of them." I also have little sympathy for those who don't control their pets.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jun 04 - 11:09 AM

Thanks for posting...great lyrics.

Louie Roy...I am glad you are a good shot. My son's friend, about 13 yrs. old, was killed by a poor-aiming neighbour after his dog. The dog was innocent in that case.

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 11:10 AM

Thanks Kat for your comments and you are asolutely right if you are a poor shot keep the guns in the house but when a dog,coyote ,Mt Loin is in our flock I never miss but i make sure the owner sees where they were when they dropped.I'll be PMing you for your mailing address in the near future I have your tape about half finished Louie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Sheep-Killin'Dog
From: Louie Roy
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 03:01 PM

I am the guest in #8 spot somehow mudcat dropped me from their roster Louie Roy