Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt
From: GUEST,Joyce Melton
Date: 11 Oct 15 - 05:54 PM

My dad had this, the Rex version, in a book titled, "The Poems of Robert Service" which also had Service's other well-known works. As I remember, this was a discarded rebound library copy he bought in a used book store.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt
From: GUEST,John Cowles
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 07:35 PM

Incidentally, Beers does NOT use the tune from "The Whistler and His Dog," but another tune that sounds extremely familiar to me. I'm willing to send an mp3 to anyone who will post an abc version of the tune. I would post the mp3 on the net, but I'm not sure about copyright laws here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt
From: GUEST,John Cowles
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 07:25 PM

The Piddlin' Pup was sung by Fiddler Beers on his 1959 Prestige album 'Psalty Psongs with Pfiddle and Psaltry.' He sings the 'Rex' version, but attributes the words to Eugene Field (I have also seen the words attributed to Robert W. Service).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 May 11 - 08:25 AM

Joe Offer: Monologues.co.uk, the site from which you copied PIDDLIN' PETE, now says:

"PIDDLIN' PETE
Anon
Arranged & performed by
Leslie Sarony"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin' Pete / The Runt
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 May 11 - 08:13 AM

Scott: If your typed copy says "Fields" it was certainly not typed by the author, who would not have misspelled his own name. I think we have established that the author was Eugene Field (1850-1895).

Back before photocopiers (Xerox machines, as we called them back then) became common in the 1960s it was not unusual for people to type copies of things they wanted to keep. People even used carbon paper to make multiple copies of things they wanted to distribute to friends. Imagine that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 May 11 - 10:23 PM

There are other threads about this piece - And though it CAN fit 'The Whistler and His Dog' I have a much simpler tune . IF anyone is interested I can supply an MP3 by E Mail

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Origins Unknown
Date: 09 May 11 - 09:37 PM

Dearest, most beloved Scott

Origins Unknown.

The best parts trickled down and you were left a carbon-copy

---

Poster's usual name is....gargoyle. -JRO-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Scott
Date: 09 May 11 - 09:03 PM

I have a typed copy that I found among my parents things and judging by the look of it seems to be from the 30's or 40's. The name, however is Eugene "Fields" and not "Field" and the title is "The Runt" What intrigues me is whether it was typed by someone unknown just to be able to give it to others or was it typed by the author!!
Scott

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Ian/Edinburgh
Date: 17 Jun 10 - 09:05 AM

"The Runt, A doggy tale Being A Urinous Ballad By EUGENE FIELD" was privately printed in 1935 and I recently acquired a copy in a box of books at auction. Apart from a crease, it is in very good condition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,PETE / FLORIDA
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 11:19 PM

I have a book "STAG LINES" that includes "THE ROMANCE OF REX". As noted above somewhere it was billed as "A Tale of a Pedigreed Piddlin' Pup in Ten Piddles and a Puddle". The tenth piddle was just four lines and the Puddle was also four lines. The book was copywrited in 1940, and is now falling apart. JO ANDERSON is listed as the auther.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 08:20 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 07:06 PM

Has anyone any progress on the tune? I will be seeing Jacqui's brother again on Saturday and he may be "drink taken" and effusive to the point of singing...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,guest, abrum
Date: 02 Jun 09 - 02:40 PM

I found a hand written copy of the Runt version in my Great Aunts' things after she died, and wondered about the source of the poem. She was diagnosed with type I diabetes in 1926 at 16 years old, and died in 1986 after having lived with the disease for 60 years.
Thanks to all who have posted here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,PamBothma
Date: 27 Nov 08 - 11:24 PM

As a child I had a poem called Piet the piddling pup but it wasn't the one featured above. I can recall only a couple of phrases - "....here a piddle there a widdle and then a little puddle..." do you know of this poem?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Richard Freestone ( aka FERD)
Date: 08 Nov 08 - 06:17 AM

I've been looking for the words to what I recall was the Dog Piddling
Song for years.

Last time I heard it performed was by Diz Disley circa 1969 in the Prince of Wales Pub on Dalling Road, Hammersmith, London (Hammersmith Folk Club) on Thursday nights.

Happy days!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,barbara
Date: 03 Oct 08 - 12:11 AM

TO JIM DIXON: THE POEM THE RUNT IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE DIABETIC DOG!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS PRINT? BARBARA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 12:22 PM

I once witnessed a dramatic reading (you had to be there) of "Rex, The Piddling Pup." I have never heard it put to music, but the recitation was a lot of fun. This was at a long ago coffee house, "The End," in Tacoma, Washington in 1962.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 09:34 AM

I was surprised to see this poem attributed to Eugene Field, who is mainly famous for poems for and about children, a few of which have been posted at Mudcat, such as:
LITTLE BOY BLUE (not the one with "come blow your horn")
THE SUGAR-PLUM TREE
WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD

I shouldn't have been surprised. There is also LITTLE WILLIE, about a child who wet the bed.

And The Erotic Muse, by Ed Cray, says:

Not only is the bawdy song found in such good company, but frequently it is said to be sired by equally prominent poets.... Indeed, Eugene Field turned out so many of these underground ballads that friends privately published an anthology of his "secret" poems.

Indeed, there are several bawdy poems attributed to Field in the privately printed Immortalia, by "A Gentleman About Town." That book does contain THE DIABETIC DOG (text posted by Mr Happy above) but it is called "Anonymous."

I couldn't find any information about a similar poem by Eugene Field.

Barbara: I'd like to know, does your text match THE DIABETIC DOG, or any of the other versions given here? If not, would you post what you have? Even an exact quote of a verse or so would help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 08 - 12:18 AM

I need help finding info about a print or illustration of THE RUNT by Eugene Fields. It is the dog all of you are talking about. He piddles on everything to will the contest. He had diabetes. It is copyright by the Sterling Art Metal Works in Long Island City, NY, mfgr. of Runt the Mascot Novelty Ash Tray. It is about 18" wide and about 12" high. The poem is in the middle of the paper and a border of the dogs and all of the places he piddled on. It is very old. I purchased it because it looks like a scottie dog. Any info!!
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Valerie
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 09:19 PM

In the 1930'and 40's my grandfather used to recite this when he was working as a linesman for the power company in Springhill Nova Scotia. Groups of children would sit around where he was working and listen to him and a co-worker recite the story of Runt, the Piddling pup. It's great to know that this will be shared by current generations. I have a copy of the version my grandfather recited and it is almost exactly as above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 06:46 PM

My father read this poem to me when I was a child in the early 60s. Years later we couldn't remember what book he'd read it from. I just came across it in a book I wound up with after my father died. It's "Poems for the John" by Jackie Kannon, copyright 1960 by Kanrom, Inc. No attribution is given. At a glance it appears to be identical to the version posted by Earl on 02 Dec 98, though it's titled "The Piddling Pup (A tale of a Pedigreed Piddlin' Pup in Ten Piddles and a Puddle.)"

Thanks for the additional info on the lineage of this great work of poetry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,GUEST, EM
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 03:49 PM

Thank you! My granny used to sing this to us every new year when we were little and although I got a copy when I was in my teens, I sadly lost it! I can now teach it to my daughters and torture any willing ear at New Year and Burns night too!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Rusty
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 10:36 PM

Hi everyone, my father read this poem to me years ago but I recall it being named "Pete, the Piddling Pup" by I.P.Standing. Obviously an embellishment added at some time. I have often told my sons there was a great poem about a peeing dog....now I can share it with them! Thanks to everyone.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,AnaGrey
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:01 PM

Thank you one and all for solving a mystery for me. My mother told me this limerick in 1957 when I was in junior high school, and even said it slowly enough for me to write down the whole thing. It was something she had read when she was a child and had committed it to memory. The version she gave me was from the 1927 book. Over the years I lost the handwritten copy but remembered bits and pieces. I tried searching the internet by authors and thought it sounded like something Ogden Nash or James Thurber would have writen, but could never find it. My granddaughter, who knows the computer much better than I do, found this site for me. My mom always called it The Runt, not Piddlin Pete, but everything else is the same line for line. Thank you to every one who added to this site and kept it going all these years so my granddaughter could find it for me. A 50 year old mystery is solved.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,Ol'Ern
Date: 29 Jul 07 - 08:21 PM

Sometime in the late 1940's my Uncle, Sander Moe, who at that time owned and operated a Dry Goods store in Rainey River, Ontario, Canada went to a Dominian wide Curling Bonspiel in Winnepeg, Manitoba in the company of my father, my uncle Carl and the Dentist from my home town in Pembina, North Dakota.

At the completion of the Curling events a large banquet was held, attended by the contestents, my hapless relatives and friend, as well as numerous Dignitaries from all over Canada including the PM of Canada.

After the Trophies had been awarded and all the dignitaries had said their piece the Master of Ceremonies foolishly asked if anyone present had anything to add.

Sander stood and calmly walked to the stage where he first gave a performance of his mime of a drunken wooden legged sailor dancing a jig.

Then as an unrequested encore he recited the "Piddlin Pup".

My father said he and the others shunned and denied knowing Sander until they were safely in the car and on the way back across the border.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DIABETIC DOG
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 08:08 AM

From here: http://monologues.co.uk/004/Piddling_Pete.htm



Thanks go to John Mehlberg for this much older version, taken from a 1927 book
entitled ' IMMORTALIA '

THE DIABETIC DOG
Anonymous

A farmer's dog came into town,
His Christian name was Runt.
A noble pedigree had he,
Noblesse oblige his stunt.

And as he trotted down the street,
'Twas beautiful to see
His work at every corner and
His work at every tree.

He watered every gateway too
And never missed a post,
For piddling was his specialty,
And piddling was his boast.

They city curs looked on amazed
With deep and jealous rage,
To see a simple country dog
The piddler of the age.

Then all the dogs from everywhere,
Were summoned by a yell
To sniff the country stranger o'er,
And judge him by his small.

Some thought that he a king might be,
Beneath his tail a rose,
So every city dog drew nigh
And sniffed it up his nose.

They smelled him over one by one,
They smelled him two by two,
And noble Runt, in high disdain,
Stood still 'til they were through.

Then just to show the whole shebang
He didn't care a dam',
He trotted to a grocery store
And piddled on a ham.

He piddled in a mackerel keg,
He piddled on the floor,
And when the grocer kicked him out,
He piddled through the door.

Behind him all the city dogs
Lined up with instinct true,
To start a piddling carnival
And see the stranger through.

They showed him every piddling post
They had in all the town,
And started in, with many a wink,
To pee the stranger down.

They sent for champion piddlers who
Were always on the go,
Who sometimes did a piddling stunt
Or gave a piddling show.

They sprung these on him suddenly
When midway in the town,
Runt only smiled, and polished off
The ablest, white and brown.

For Runt was with them every trick,
With vigor and with vim,
A thousand piddlers more or less
Were all the same to him.

So he was wetting merrily,
With hind legs kicking high,
When most were hoisting legs in bluff,
And piddling mighty dry.

Then on and on Runt sought new grounds,
By piles of scrap and rust,
'Til every city dog went dry
And only piddled dust.

But ever on went noble Runt
As wet as any rill,
And all the champion city pups
Were peed to a standstill.

Then Runt did freehand piddling,
With fancy fiisrt and flings,
Like double drip and gimlet twist,
And all that sort of thing.

And all the time this country dog
Did never wink nor grin,
But piddled blithely out of town
As he came piddling in.

The city dogs convention held,
To ask, "what did defeat us?"
But no one ever put them wise
That Runt had diabetes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: clueless don
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 12:16 PM

The recitation about Rex, the piddlin' dog appears (along with a number of other nice recitations) on a recent CD by Irish flute player Kevin Henry. I think the CD is titled "One's Own Place".

As I recall (it's been a little while since the last time I listened to it), Mr. Henry's version has a different punch line, something like the town dogs wondering "what was the matter", but revealing that Rex "had a king-size bladder" or something very like that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 07:38 PM

Amazingly as it seems, Vin Garbutt used to sing this in his young days in Middlesbrough (and out of it too, no doubt) in the mid/late 60s. His dog was Pete, but the version included more of the techniques of the Rex version than the Pete version above, and he definitely piddled out as he had piddled in.

Mick

Subject: DTADD: Piddlin Pete (Leslie Sarony
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 04:58 PM

This site says that "Piddlin Pete" was written by Leslie Sarony, who is also the source of Ain't It Grand, To Be Bloomin Well dead.
-Joe Offer-

---

PIDDLIN' PETE
(Leslie Sarony)

A famous dog once came to town
Known to his friends as Pete
His pedigree was ten yards long
His looks were hard to beat

And as he trotted down the road
'twas beautiful to see
His work at every corner
Every post and every tree

He never missed a land mark
He never missed a post
For piddling was his masterpiece
And piddling pleased him most

The city dogs stood looking on
In deep and jealous rage
To see this little country dog
The piddler of his age

They smelt his efforts one by one
They smelt him two by two
But noble Pete in high disdain
Stood still 'til they were through

Then when they'd smelt him everywhere
The praise for him ran high
But when one smelt him underneath
Pete piddled in his eye

Just then to show these city dogs
He didn't care a damn
He strolled into the grocers shop
And piddled on the ham

He piddled on the cornflakes
He piddled on the floor
And when the grocer threw him out
He piddled up the door

Behind him all the city dogs
Debated what to do
They'd hold a piddling carnival
The hoop they'd put him through

They showed him all the piddling posts
They knew about the town
And off they set with many a wink
To wear the stranger down

But Pete was with them all the way
With vigour and with vim
A thousand piddles more or less
Were all the same to him

And on and on went noble Pete
As tireless as a windmill
And very soon those city dogs
Were piddled to a standstill

Then Pete an exhibition gave
Of all the ways to piddle
With double drips and fancy flips
And now and then a dribble

The city dogs said farewell Pete
Your piddling did defeat us
But no one ever put them wise
That Pete... he had diabetes.

---

Also see this page (click).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Piddlin Pete
From: sian, west wales
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 05:40 AM

Purely co-incidentally, I came across this which 'adds to the debate' nicely, I think.

sian

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 06:18 AM

If only I could type:

Although this is a rather old thread, some sources might be useful.

Shown in: American Ballads, Naughty Ribald and Classic, Presented by the Editors of Gold Medal Books (A Red Seal Book), Compiled by Charles O'Brien Kennedy with the Assistance of David Jordan, Fawcett Publications, Inc., New York, First Edition, November 1952.

The Piddling Pup (A Tale of a Pedigreed Piddlin' Pup in Ten Piddles and a Puddle)

With a subhead:

"I have often wondered, when observing George Jean Nathan, the dean of American Drama Critics, walking his dog on 44th street, if he applies the same critical standards to its performance as he does to ordinary dogs."

The verses, which are as posted by Earl above, are each separately titled "Piddle No. 1," "Piddle No. 2," through "Piddle No. 10." Piddle No. 10 is shortened to 4 lines, with the final "The city dogs conventions held…" labelled "The Puddle."

Attributed to "Unknown."

(The Nathan Award is administered by the Cornell University Department of English, under the terms of a trust established by George Jean Nathan (1882-1958), author and critic, who graduated from Cornell in 1904)

Note that this recitative does not appear in Kennedy's A Treasury of American Ballads, Gay Naughty and Classic published McBride Co., NY, 1954.

Also appears in Songs for Swingin' Housemothers, Frank Lynn, Chandler Publishing Co., San Francisco, 1961, as "Rex, The Piddling Pup." Text is as posted above. No attribution – presumedly it's that guy "Anon Amos" again. A melody line and chords are given here.

Appears in A Book of Vulgar Verse: An anthology of ballads, sailor's songs, cowboy songs, college songs, parodies, limericks, and other humorous verses and doggerel now for the first time brought together in book form by "A Gentleman About Town," Checkerbooks, Inc., Toronto, ISBN 0-89009-411-X, December 1981, as "The Diabetic Dog."

First verse here is:

A famer's dog came into town,
His christian name was Runt.
A noble pedigree had he,
Nobless oblige his stunt.

Remaining verses as posted previously.

Again attributed to "Anonymous."

John

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Jul 03 - 12:42 PM

At last I think I nearly have a tune to this from Jacqui's brother, who played it at the family gathering after her wake.   It seems to be much the same as "Owdham" (New Voices, Topic Records, 12t215, 1965) Tune possibly Trad adapted Harry Boardman.

Comments? Playable files?

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 07:36 AM

Phil Neald (I think his name is spelled) of Tamworth, Staffs, UK, (aka Big Ernie) used to sing a version of this to the tune, more or less, of The Drummer & the Cook.

Speaking of Pryor's band, I've got the record - a 78 - at home; small world...

Steve

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Glenn Cannon
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 01:49 PM

Yeah, the words of the wersion I always sung were of a dog called Rex. I first heard this charming little piece from the singing of Diz Disley in the mid `60's when I was about fourteen or fifteen. I thought it'd go down well with the Church ladies Tea party, so I determined to learn it. Diz is best known as a great Jazz guitarist - probably the best exponent of the style of Django since Django and from the mid seventies until just a few years ago he regularly accompanied Stephan Graphelli. Diz called this song `The Romance of Rex' and it used to be a regular feature of his club act but he was a mean sod and never let anyone else have the words, so I sneaked one of the old origional cassette recorders (1965 vintage) into the folk club one night and pirated him.Unfortunately, his drunken mumblings were sometimes too incoherent to transcribe so I've always been two half verses short and for thirty years I've combined the remaining (odd) half verses together to make nine tenths of a song. Now I've got the whole song at last thanks to you guys but I dont suppose no bugger else wants to hear it. I last heard Diz at our local folk club last Summer and he's as brilliant as ever but I think he's forgotten all about Rex. I shan't tell him the words!!

Cheers pals!

Glenn Cannon [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Richard McD. Bridge
Date: 13 Dec 98 - 06:19 PM

Well thanks again to everyone for the education. I would very much like the UK version of the words to Piddlin Pete if they can be conveniently sent. As to MIDI replay, I have cubase light, but I unloaded it 'cos I only wanted to use it as a mixer for music played by people on analogue instruments and it turned out I couldn't do that with it. If I load it aagain will that let me play the midi file posted?

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 09:00 PM

Hey, MMario, if this is the first time you've posted a tune, put a note in the Tune contest thread for Joe, at least if you want a try at the tape theyre giving away.
And does anyone want the British Isles version of this? It's a farmer and his dog, not rex, but the words are very similar. I have them (as a recitation) on a tape BAZ sent me.
Blessings,
BArbara

Subject: Tune Add: THE WHISTLER AND HIS DOG
From: MMario
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 04:03 PM

okay - going to see if this works. there's a first time for everything, right? This is the melody line only of A whistler and his dog.

MMario Name: THE WHISTLER AND HIS DOG

ABC format:

X:1
T:whistler&dog
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
c6c'2|afede2dc|-c^cd2A^G2A|c5A/2G/2F2|GA2cf2dc|
-cdeged2e|g5cc'2|afede2dc|-c^cd2a^a2a|d5d/2e/2f2|
d/2e/2f2d/2e/2fg^ga|c'ag3c3|f6F2|D^A2DA^GAF|
-F2^A2Ddf2Fg|a^gaf3^a2|^dg2^Afdc^A|cdc5B/2c/2|
f6F2|D^A2DA^GAF|-F2^A2df2g|a^gaf3^a2|-^ag3fdc^A|
cdc3F3|^A3c3c'2|afede2dc|-c^cd2A^G2A|c5A/2G/2F2|
GA2cf2dc|-cdeged2e|g5cc'2|afede2dc|-c^cd2a^a2a|
d5d/2e/2f2|d/2e/2f2d/2e/2fg^ga|c'ag6|f15/4||

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: SteveF
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 03:06 PM

You can listen to "The Whistler and His Dog" by Arthur Pryor, and even download the MIDI file, by clicking here.

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: SteveF
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 02:51 PM

Love this place! I finally learned the words to "Whistler and His Dog."

This tune has been familiar to me since I was a tot, when it was used as the opening and closing theme of a kids' local broadcast program. I didn't find out the name of the melody until many years later when it turned up in a Reader's Digest compilation of American music. Now I have the words! Thanks, guys.

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: MMario
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 01:08 PM

I found an RA file of this tune... Sounds VERY familiar to me. I THINK it was background music for parts of "The Little Rascals" and also in some of the early cartoons. (That seems to be what it triggers in my memory at least) The music can be found on the Levy collection site by searching for "whistler" But I'm not sure how you would fit the words given in this thread to this tune!

MMario

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Allan S.
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 11:36 AM

Do I have to help everyone out? But seeing that I started this thread searching for "Down from the hill came Piss Pot Pete" which evolved/degenerated to the Piddling pup, here it is.

Page 182 of "G.I. Songs" by E.A. Palmer, Sheridan House, 1944. THE PIDDLIN PUP by Jo Anderson. Melody: The Whistler and His Dog. It also has a woodcut and the following quote.

"This lovely ballad was sent in by one of the commanding officers of a naval base in the West. He writes that it has been a favorite of his men for years, and it is gaining new glory and new favor with the new men from gob to captain and up."

I believe "The Whistler and His Dog" was a popular song back to the turn of the Cent. There was a part of the song that was whistled.

Allan S.

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Paddy
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 06:41 AM

Richard

It is a recitation, my brother used to do it - a most talentless guy but when performed with appropriate actions it can bring the house down.

Can't imagine anyone's sister doing it quite the same as him ..........

Paddy

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: alison
Date: 09 Dec 98 - 05:54 PM

Hi Richard,

I've only ever heard it recited...... didn't know it had a tune.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Richard McD. Bridge
Date: 09 Dec 98 - 03:36 PM

I don't believe this. My wife has been on about this song for 20 years. I think she thought one of her brothers or old time cronies wrote it. And there it is right out of the blue! Now where do we get the tune?

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 12:31 PM

You're killing me.

Mick

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Earl
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 11:11 AM

I don't know what happened, there should be a break after every eighth line. Maybe if Joe's around he can fix it.

Subject: Lyr Add: REX, THE PIDDLING PUP
From: Earl
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 11:08 AM

^^
REX, THE PIDDLING PUP

A farmer's dog came into town
His Christian name was Rex
A noble pedigree had he
Unusual was his text
And as he trotted down the street
'twas beautiful to see
His work on every corner
His work on every tree

He watered every gateway, too,
And never missed a post.
For piddling was his specialty
And piddling was his boast.
The city curs looked on amazed
With deep and jealous rage
To see a simple country dog
The piddler of the age.

Then all the dogs from everywhere
Were summoned with a yell,
To sniff the country stranger o'er
And judge him by his smell.
Some thought that he a king might be
Beneath his tail a rose,
So every dog drew near to him
And sniffed it up his nose.

They smelled him over one by one
They smelled him two by two
And noble Rex, in high disdain,
Stood still till they were through.
Then just to show the whole shebang
He didn't give a damn
He trotted in a grocery store
And piddled on a ham.

He piddled in a mackerel keg
He piddled on the floor,
And when the grocer kicked him out
He piddled through the door.
Behind him all the city dogs
Lined up with instinct true
To start a piddling carnival
And see the stranger through.

They showed him every piddling post
They had in all the town.
And started in with many a wink
To pee the stranger down.
They sent for champion piddlers
Who were always on the go,
Who sometimes did a piddling stunt
Or gave a piddling show.

They sprung these on him suddenly
When midway in the town;
Rex only smiled and polished off
The ablest, white or brown.
Now Rex was with them every trick
With vigor and with vim.
A thousand piddles more or less,
Were all the same to him.

So he was wetting merrily
With hind leg kicking high,
When most were hoisting legs, in bluff
And piddling mighty dry.
On and on Rex sought new grounds
By piles and scraps and rust,
Till every city dog went dry
And piddled only dust.

But on and on went noble Rex
As wet as any rill,
And all the champion city pups
Were pee'd to a standstill.
Then Rex did free-hand piddling
With fancy flirts and flits
Like "double dip" and "gimlet twist"
And all those latest hits.

And all the time this country dog
Did never wink or grin,
But piddled blithely out of town
As he has piddled in
The city dogs conventions held
To ask, "What did defeat us?"
But no on ever put them wise
That Rex had diabetes.

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Paddy
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 10:06 AM

Big Mick,

The punch line will be an anti climax at this stage

Just a sick joke really !!!

Paddy

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Earl
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 09:41 AM

I have it in a songbook as "Rex, The Piddling Pup" It has ten 8-line verses. If I can scan it into the computer I'll post it.

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Big Mick
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 08:34 AM

You folks are killing me. I am dying to hear the bloody punchline. I know that I have heard this song years ago, but I canna remember the punchline. Come on, you guys, help an old fella who canna rememba.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: PIDDLIN' PETE
From: Tiger
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 07:53 AM

Snitches, here and there. Eventually, we'll have the whole thing....Tiger

A country dog came into town
His Christian name was Runt
A noble pedigree had he,
Noblesse oblige his stunt.

(other verses)

And just to show the other dogs
He didn't give a damn
He went into a grocery store
And piddled on a ham.

He piddled on a mackerel keg
He he piddled on the floor
And when the grocer kicked him out
He piddled through the door.

(other verses)

Alison - I'll hold the punch line, too.

Subject: Lyr Add: PIDDLIN' PETE
From: Paddy
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 07:34 AM

I think there is a parity error in my memory but here are the bits I can recover of Piddlin Pete.

Perhaps someone could complete the doggerel

PIDDLIN' PETE

As he wondered down the roadway
Twas beautiful to see
His work on every gatepost
His work on every tree

...................

He piddled on the carrots
He piddled on the ham
And when the grocer chucked him out
He piddled on the jam

(a competition was held among all the dogs and when they were all exhausted i.e "When other dogs raised legs in bluff To piddle in the sky")

Then Pete an exhibition gave
Of all the ways to piddle
With fancy flips and double drips
And then a little dribble

The city dogs said so long Pete
At piddlin' you defeat us
(And then the punch lines !)

Paddy

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: Barbara
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 03:51 AM

Ive got it on a tape as a poem (thank you BAZ), and pete is - yes - a farmer's dog that out-piddles all the town dogs. Is that the one you want?
Blessings,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: alison
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 01:06 AM

Hi,

Haven't heard it done for a while .... and I can only remeber the punchline...... but I'll keep quiet in case someone else knows the rest of it.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Piddlin Pete
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 10:55 PM

Is Piddlin Pete a dog? From a Henry Lawson poem?

Regards
John

Subject: Piddlin Pete words needed
From: Allan S.
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 09:55 PM

On page 129 of the Fall issue of Sing Out there is reference to a Poem? "Piddlin Pete" as sung by Waddie Mitchell on Shannachie 6030. Does any one have the words to this? It may be the song that I thought was "Piss pot Pete" and have been searching for. Allan S.