The Songs He Sang

Old Blue: Lyrics

As performed by Cisco Houston

Traditional

Appears on:

This version is on This Land Is My Land.

My wife died and left me a farm
My wife died and left me a farm
My wife died and left me a farm
That's why I'm going back to Charlestown

Well I had a dog and his name was Blue
I had me a dog and his name was Blue
Well I had a dog and his name was Blue
And I betcha five dollars he's a good one too
Singing "Ya Blue", I cried, "Come on, Blue"

Well he treed a possum in a hollow log
He treed a possum in a hollow log
Blue treed a possum in a hollow log
And you could tell from that he was a good old dog

Well, old Blue's feet was big and round
Old Blue's feet was big and round
Old Blue's feet was big and round
He never 'lowed a possum to touch the ground
Singing "Ya Blue, you good dog you"

I'll take my gun I'll take my horn
And get me a possum in the new-grown corn.
Well Old Blue barked and I went to see
And he had a possum up in a tree
Well the possum crawled out on the limb
Blue barked, the possum, possum growled at him
Singing "Ya Blue, you can have some too"

When old Blue died he died so hard
He shook the ground in my back yard
So I dug his grave with a silver spade
And I lowered him down with a golden chain
And every link I did call his name
I called "Ya Blue, I'm coming too"

Now I will tell you so you'll know
I'm gonna tell you so you'll know
I'm gonna tell you so you'll know
That Old Blue's gone where the good dogs go
Singing "Ya Blue, you good dog you"

Other version

I had an old dog and his name was Blue
I had me a dog and his name was Blue
Well I had an old dog and his name was Blue
I'll betcha five dollars he's a good one too
Singing "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

Well, Old Blue's feet was big and round
Old Blue's feet was big and round
Old Blue's feet was big and round
He never 'lowed a possum to touch the ground
Well he treed a possum in a hollow log
You could tell from that he was a good old dog
I said "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

I'll take my axe and I'll take my horn
And get me a possum in the new-grown corn.
Well Old Blue barked and I went to see
And he had a possum up in a tree
Well the possum crawled out on the limb
Blue barked, the possum, possum growled at him
Singing "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

Well Blue what makes your eyes so red
Blue what makes your eyes so red
Blue what makes your eyes so red
You run that possum till you're almost dead
Singing "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

When old Blue died he died so hard
He shook the ground in my back yard
So I dug his grave with a silver spade
And I lowered him down with a golden chain
And every link I did call his name
I said "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

Now everytime I hear Blue bark
Everytime I hear Blue bark
Everytime I hear Blue bark
He's treeing possums in Noah's ark
Singing "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

Well I will tell you so you'll know
I'm gonna tell you so you'll know
I'm gonna tell you so you'll know
That Old Blue's gone where the good dogs go
Singing "Ya-ho Blue, you good dog you"

C'mon Blue

Of note:

Every dog in these "good ol' dog" songs seems to be named either Blue or Rattler. Guess those names have kinda gone out of style. Strong singing, good playing, a fine performance of a song that looks pretty lame when read.

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