Pickin_Pa - Posted - 06/06/2008:  02:45:08

Being an Aussie, the term "Salty Dog" doesn't mean much to me. But I like the tune and I guess if songs are written about old salty dogs and "darlin be my salty dog" it sure must mean something to someone.

Any clues ???

Cheers and happy Pickin...
Pa.

banjo_robb - Posted - 06/06/2008:  03:39:59

Lots of meanings, from what I have heard:

According to Wikipedia, Salty Dog may refer to:

Salty dog (slang), a slang phrase with several meanings, including "an experienced sailor" and "a libidinous man"
Salty dog (cocktail), a drink made with vodka or gin and grapefruit juice
Salty Dog Blues, a traditional folk song
A Salty Dog, 1969 album by Procol Harum
Salty Dog (Band), a hard rock/blues/sleaze band that released one album in 1990 Every Dog Has Its Day




Also, a definition with more elaboration:

http://www.able2know.org/forums/about59735.html.


Robbin

~~~~~~~~~~Just Pick It!

www.americanmadebanjo.com.

Edited by - banjo_robb on 06/06/2008 03:41:36

dixie kiwi - Posted - 06/06/2008:  03:43:11

I'm sure there are some off-color interpretations out there for 'salty dog' involving haggard men of the sea, refreshing grapefruit-vodka beverages or ribald exploits of cad-like behavior. I have read this account i reckon its as good as any:


During the recording session in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the Morris Brothers recorded the song that was their all time hit-"Let Me Be Your Salty Dog." The song was written by Zeke in 1935, but both brothers arranged it. Wiley explained that "I have a different definition of a salty dog than Zeke has. Back when we were kids down in Old Fort we would see a girl we liked and say "I'd like to be her salty dog." There also used to be a drink you could get up in Michigan. All you had to do was say "Let me have a Salty Dog," and they'd pour you one." Zeke remembers that "I got the idea when we went to a little old honky tonk just outside of Canton which is in North Carolina. We went to play at a school out beyond Waynesville somewhere and we stopped at this place. They sold beer and had slot machines. At that time they were legal in North Carolina. We got in there after the show and got to drinking that beer and playing the slot machines with nickels, dimes and quarters. I think we hit three or four jackpots. Boy, here it would come! You know you had a pile of money when you had two handfuls of change. The name of that place was the "Salty Dog," and that's where I got the idea for the song. There's actually more verses to it than me and Wiley sing, a lot more verses." There is little doubt that "Salty Dog" is the most popular number the Morris Brothers ever recorded. According to Wiley, "It's considered a standard. Everybody uses it in the bluegrass field, just about. We're making more money off it now on copyright royalties than we ever did on our record, with other people using it. I reckon that song is known all over the world. When I get my statement every six months, it's being played in every nation under the sun. That song is even popular in Japan! 'Salty Dog' aint one that's gone up to high heaven and then fell completely down. It's just one that's considered a standard. It's our biggest song 'cause it's a good five string banjo number played bluegrass style."


-----------------------
And, Bobby, you are right - I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don''t have a whole lot of songs that feature the COWBELL!!!
-Will Ferrell

banjo_robb - Posted - 06/06/2008:  03:46:33

Well said, Alan!!! Very interesting information!!

Robbin

~~~~~~~~~~Just Pick It!

www.americanmadebanjo.com.

Richard Dress - Posted - 06/06/2008:  06:50:16

In a musical context a ‘salty dog’ is a sexual partner. Sometimes called a 'step husband'--when the real husband steps out, the step husband steps in. Papa Charlie Jackson recorded this song for Paramount and for Broadway (Casey Harris) in 1924 (crediting Charlie Jackson), Clara Smith for Columbia in 1926 as “Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), Freddie Keppard’s Jazz Cardinals for Paramount in 1926 as “Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), Chas Booker for Gennett in 1927 as “Salty Dog”, the McGee Brothers (Sam & Kirk) with Uncle Dave Macon for Vocalion in 1927, the Allen Brothers (Austin & Lee) for Columbia in 1927, the Booker Orchestra for Gennett in 1928, Oscar Craver (Byrd Moore) for Conqueror in 1928 in a medley, the Paramount Pickers for Paramount in 1928 as :”Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), the Allen Brothers (Allen, Austin & Lee) for Victor/Montgomery Ward/Bluebird/RCA/His Master’s Voice in 1930 as “A New Salty Dog”--crediting Austin Allen (Document Records reissued it for the 2000 album Allen Brothers, Volume II), Salty Dog Sam (Collins) for Perfect/Banner/Oriole/Romeo in 1931 as “New Salty Dog”, the Stripling Brothers for Decca in 1934 as “Salty Dog”, the Allen Brothers again for Vocalion in 1934 as “Salty Dog Hey Hey Hey”, the Morris Brothers for Bluebird in 1938 as “Let Me be Your Salty Dog” and for RCA in 1945, and the Modern Mountaineers for RCA in 1946? as “New Salty Dog”. Under the title “Old Salty Dog Blues”, the lead singer was fiddler Benny Sims for this May 1952 Mercury release on a 78 rpm single (Mercury Records reissued the song for the 1958 Flatt & Scruggs album Country Music, Nashville for the 1970/1987 album Golden Hits of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and for the 1974 album Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Collector’s Classics for the 1976 Flatt & Scruggs album The Vintage Years, Volume II, Time Life Records for the 1982 album Country and Western Classics: Flatt & Scruggs, Rounder Special Series for the 1985 Flatt & Scruggs album Mercury Sessions, Volume I, Deluxe for the 1986/1994 Flatt & Scruggs album 20 Greatest Hits, Mercury Nashville for the 1992 Flatt & Scruggs album The Complete Mercury Sessions and for the 2001 Flatt & Scruggs album The Millennium Collection: The Best of Flatt & Scruggs, Bear Family for the 1991 Flatt & Scruggs box set 1948-1959, Hollywood for the 1994 Flatt & Scruggs album Golden Years, Mercury for the 2001 album The Best of Flatt & Scruggs: The Millennium Collection and for the 2003 Flatt & Scruggs album The Complete Mercury Recordings, JSP Records for the 2003 compilation box set Selected Sides 1947-1953: The Very Best of Bluegrass, Proper Box for the 2004 box set Proper Introduction To Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, and Country Stars for the 2005 Flatt & Scruggs album Foggy Mountain Special). Both Sims and Scruggs worked for the Morris Brothers (Wiley & Zeke) who had already recorded it (see above). Vanguard Records released a version by the Morris Brothers, recorded in 1959, for the 1993 album Bluegrass At Newport. In 1987 Copper Creek Records released a live Stanley Brothers version, recorded in 1958. Lester Flatt, Earl Scrugs & the Foggy Mountain Boys recorded it again with Lester singing lead for their 1963 Columbia Records album Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs At Carnegie Hall (Sony/Columbia reissued that album in 1987 under the same title, Columbia reissued the song for the 1970 Flatt & Scruggs album 20 All-Time Great Recordings, Columbia for the 1973 albums The Best of Flatt & Scruggs and The World of Flatt & Scruggs, Bear Family Records for the 1992 Flatt & Scruggs box set 1959-1963, Koch Records for the 1998 Flatt & Scruggs album At Carnegie Hall, and Sony for the 2000 Flatt & Scruggs album Classics: 36 All-Time Greatest Hits). Columbia Records reissued it for the 1965 Flatt & Scruggs Harmony album Kings of Bluegrass (Volume II) and for the 1973 album The World of Flatt & Scruggs (Sony/Columbia reissued the album in 1987 under the same title) both as SALTY DOG BLUES. In 1986 the Sandy Hook label released a live version recorded in 1953 for their WSM Martha White Biscuit Time Show. Gusto Records reissued the song for the 1977 compilation Thirty Years of Bluegrass and for the 1978 compilation 20 Bluegrass Originals. Among many others, Mississippi John Hurt, the Blue Sky Boys, the Hall Brothers, Barrier Brothers, Elvin Rooks & the Blue Grass Ramblers, Curley Seckler, the Stanley Brothers, Mac Martin, Kingston Trio, Lamplighters, Rainbow Valley Boys, Jim & Jesse, the Osborne Brothers, Roy Clark, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Benny Martin & Josh Graves, Buck White, Jimmy Martin, Bill Emerson, Bill Keith & Jim Rooney, Lost City Mad Dogs, Bluegrass Band, Hal Wylie & Roger Sprung, Log Cabin Boys, Doug Dillard Band, Upland Express, David Grisman, Leon Morris, Bill Wells & Blue Ridge Mountain Grass, Alan Munde, Kentucky Mountain Boys, Smokey River Boys, Old School Bluegrass Band, and Mac Wiseman all recorded versions of this song.

Pickin_Pa - Posted - 06/06/2008:  15:14:25

G'day Robbin,
Cheers for your reply and able2know, good site, never seen it before...

quote:

---

Originally posted by banjo_robb

Lots of meanings, from what I have heard:

According to Wikipedia, Salty Dog may refer to:

Salty dog (slang), a slang phrase with several meanings, including "an experienced sailor" and "a libidinous man"
Salty dog (cocktail), a drink made with vodka or gin and grapefruit juice
Salty Dog Blues, a traditional folk song
A Salty Dog, 1969 album by Procol Harum
Salty Dog (Band), a hard rock/blues/sleaze band that released one album in 1990 Every Dog Has Its Day




Also, a definition with more elaboration:

http://www.able2know.org/forums/about59735.html.


Robbin

~~~~~~~~~~Just Pick It!

www.americanmadebanjo.com.

---

Pickin_Pa - Posted - 06/06/2008:  15:18:38

Thanks for replying to my query. I was certain salty dog had a bit of history but reading these replies there is much more than I expected.
Cheers Pa

quote:

---

Originally posted by dixie kiwi

I'm sure there are some off-color interpretations out there for 'salty dog' involving haggard men of the sea, refreshing grapefruit-vodka beverages or ribald exploits of cad-like behavior. I have read this account i reckon its as good as any:


During the recording session in Rock Hill, South Carolina, the Morris Brothers recorded the song that was their all time hit-"Let Me Be Your Salty Dog." The song was written by Zeke in 1935, but both brothers arranged it. Wiley explained that "I have a different definition of a salty dog than Zeke has. Back when we were kids down in Old Fort we would see a girl we liked and say "I'd like to be her salty dog." There also used to be a drink you could get up in Michigan. All you had to do was say "Let me have a Salty Dog," and they'd pour you one." Zeke remembers that "I got the idea when we went to a little old honky tonk just outside of Canton which is in North Carolina. We went to play at a school out beyond Waynesville somewhere and we stopped at this place. They sold beer and had slot machines. At that time they were legal in North Carolina. We got in there after the show and got to drinking that beer and playing the slot machines with nickels, dimes and quarters. I think we hit three or four jackpots. Boy, here it would come! You know you had a pile of money when you had two handfuls of change. The name of that place was the "Salty Dog," and that's where I got the idea for the song. There's actually more verses to it than me and Wiley sing, a lot more verses." There is little doubt that "Salty Dog" is the most popular number the Morris Brothers ever recorded. According to Wiley, "It's considered a standard. Everybody uses it in the bluegrass field, just about. We're making more money off it now on copyright royalties than we ever did on our record, with other people using it. I reckon that song is known all over the world. When I get my statement every six months, it's being played in every nation under the sun. That song is even popular in Japan! 'Salty Dog' aint one that's gone up to high heaven and then fell completely down. It's just one that's considered a standard. It's our biggest song 'cause it's a good five string banjo number played bluegrass style."


-----------------------
And, Bobby, you are right - I am being selfish. But the last time I checked, we don''t have a whole lot of songs that feature the COWBELL!!!
-Will Ferrell

---

beegee - Posted - 06/06/2008:  15:21:06

Now if we could just figure out what "Waltzing Matilda" means.......

__________________________
turtle on a fencepost....

Pickin_Pa - Posted - 06/06/2008:  15:25:44

Wow, thanks Richard... what more can I say !!!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Richard Dress

In a musical context a ‘salty dog’ is a sexual partner. Sometimes called a 'step husband'--when the real husband steps out, the step husband steps in. Papa Charlie Jackson recorded this song for Paramount and for Broadway (Casey Harris) in 1924 (crediting Charlie Jackson), Clara Smith for Columbia in 1926 as “Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), Freddie Keppard’s Jazz Cardinals for Paramount in 1926 as “Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), Chas Booker for Gennett in 1927 as “Salty Dog”, the McGee Brothers (Sam & Kirk) with Uncle Dave Macon for Vocalion in 1927, the Allen Brothers (Austin & Lee) for Columbia in 1927, the Booker Orchestra for Gennett in 1928, Oscar Craver (Byrd Moore) for Conqueror in 1928 in a medley, the Paramount Pickers for Paramount in 1928 as :”Salty Dog” (crediting Charlie Jackson), the Allen Brothers (Allen, Austin & Lee) for Victor/Montgomery Ward/Bluebird/RCA/His Master’s Voice in 1930 as “A New Salty Dog”--crediting Austin Allen (Document Records reissued it for the 2000 album Allen Brothers, Volume II), Salty Dog Sam (Collins) for Perfect/Banner/Oriole/Romeo in 1931 as “New Salty Dog”, the Stripling Brothers for Decca in 1934 as “Salty Dog”, the Allen Brothers again for Vocalion in 1934 as “Salty Dog Hey Hey Hey”, the Morris Brothers for Bluebird in 1938 as “Let Me be Your Salty Dog” and for RCA in 1945, and the Modern Mountaineers for RCA in 1946? as “New Salty Dog”. Under the title “Old Salty Dog Blues”, the lead singer was fiddler Benny Sims for this May 1952 Mercury release on a 78 rpm single (Mercury Records reissued the song for the 1958 Flatt & Scruggs album Country Music, Nashville for the 1970/1987 album Golden Hits of Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs and for the 1974 album Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Collector’s Classics for the 1976 Flatt & Scruggs album The Vintage Years, Volume II, Time Life Records for the 1982 album Country and Western Classics: Flatt & Scruggs, Rounder Special Series for the 1985 Flatt & Scruggs album Mercury Sessions, Volume I, Deluxe for the 1986/1994 Flatt & Scruggs album 20 Greatest Hits, Mercury Nashville for the 1992 Flatt & Scruggs album The Complete Mercury Sessions and for the 2001 Flatt & Scruggs album The Millennium Collection: The Best of Flatt & Scruggs, Bear Family for the 1991 Flatt & Scruggs box set 1948-1959, Hollywood for the 1994 Flatt & Scruggs album Golden Years, Mercury for the 2001 album The Best of Flatt & Scruggs: The Millennium Collection and for the 2003 Flatt & Scruggs album The Complete Mercury Recordings, JSP Records for the 2003 compilation box set Selected Sides 1947-1953: The Very Best of Bluegrass, Proper Box for the 2004 box set Proper Introduction To Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, and Country Stars for the 2005 Flatt & Scruggs album Foggy Mountain Special). Both Sims and Scruggs worked for the Morris Brothers (Wiley & Zeke) who had already recorded it (see above). Vanguard Records released a version by the Morris Brothers, recorded in 1959, for the 1993 album Bluegrass At Newport. In 1987 Copper Creek Records released a live Stanley Brothers version, recorded in 1958. Lester Flatt, Earl Scrugs & the Foggy Mountain Boys recorded it again with Lester singing lead for their 1963 Columbia Records album Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs At Carnegie Hall (Sony/Columbia reissued that album in 1987 under the same title, Columbia reissued the song for the 1970 Flatt & Scruggs album 20 All-Time Great Recordings, Columbia for the 1973 albums The Best of Flatt & Scruggs and The World of Flatt & Scruggs, Bear Family Records for the 1992 Flatt & Scruggs box set 1959-1963, Koch Records for the 1998 Flatt & Scruggs album At Carnegie Hall, and Sony for the 2000 Flatt & Scruggs album Classics: 36 All-Time Greatest Hits). Columbia Records reissued it for the 1965 Flatt & Scruggs Harmony album Kings of Bluegrass (Volume II) and for the 1973 album The World of Flatt & Scruggs (Sony/Columbia reissued the album in 1987 under the same title) both as SALTY DOG BLUES. In 1986 the Sandy Hook label released a live version recorded in 1953 for their WSM Martha White Biscuit Time Show. Gusto Records reissued the song for the 1977 compilation Thirty Years of Bluegrass and for the 1978 compilation 20 Bluegrass Originals. Among many others, Mississippi John Hurt, the Blue Sky Boys, the Hall Brothers, Barrier Brothers, Elvin Rooks & the Blue Grass Ramblers, Curley Seckler, the Stanley Brothers, Mac Martin, Kingston Trio, Lamplighters, Rainbow Valley Boys, Jim & Jesse, the Osborne Brothers, Roy Clark, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Benny Martin & Josh Graves, Buck White, Jimmy Martin, Bill Emerson, Bill Keith & Jim Rooney, Lost City Mad Dogs, Bluegrass Band, Hal Wylie & Roger Sprung, Log Cabin Boys, Doug Dillard Band, Upland Express, David Grisman, Leon Morris, Bill Wells & Blue Ridge Mountain Grass, Alan Munde, Kentucky Mountain Boys, Smokey River Boys, Old School Bluegrass Band, and Mac Wiseman all recorded versions of this song.

---

banjo_robb - Posted - 06/06/2008:  15:30:04

Pa, you are welcome!
This has become a fun thread to read, especially with the information added by Alan & Richard!!

Robbin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What you see with your eyes shut is what counts".
~~~~~~Lame Deer, Lakota~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

www.americanmadebanjo.com.

Banjoman - Posted - 06/06/2008:  17:06:35

"Salty Dog," in this case, a boy friend.

"Waltzing Matilda" as I was told. "Matilda" is like a ruck sack and waltzing was a hike. So...."Waltzing Matilda" is going on "Walk About."

Some say it's when you dance with your ruck sack due to the lack of women.

Hugh
Picking since 1964

“...Bobby Thompson? He is the future! He has this whole new style-you can hear the melody! ''Hard Hearted'' ''Dixie Hoedown!'' Oh my!”---John Updike

Click Here: Banjo Hangout Rules & Guidelines.

Click Here: Bobby Thompson''s Home Page

Edited by - Banjoman on 06/06/2008 17:11:20

corcoran - Posted - 06/06/2008:  18:12:34

Here's another explanation, from bgrass-l some years ago:

Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 09:11:11 EDT
From: Desi Murphy <DESIMURPHY1@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Does anyone know this song?

It looks like the question of what a Salty Dog is has come up again. This is my very first time on the net but I can answer this. The late Zeke Morris lived about a mile up the road from me here in Black Mountain before he passed away just a few weeks ago.He wrote the song "Salty Dog". There are many explanations of what this song title means and as far as being politically correct they may be true. But Zeke told me that he come up with "Salty Dog" from a cafe he used to go to in Canton,N.C. named the Salty Dog. There, they sold little pickled hot dogs in a jar also named Salty Dogs.

Desi Murphy


Michael
michael.corcoran@usask.ca

mike gregory - Posted - 06/07/2008:  05:45:45

A little SAUSAGE?
Freud would have presented a Very Scholarly Paper on THAT!

Richard Dress - Posted - 06/07/2008:  07:22:41

The Morris Brothers say they were inspired by a hot dog in 1935 to write"Salty Dog". But there is a chance they heard one of the earlier versions of this popular 1920s song. Decide for yourself. I uploaded the Allen Brothers 1927 Columbia recording to 'My Music' page. Check it out.

beegee - Posted - 06/08/2008:  19:56:30

quote:

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Some say it's when you dance with your ruck sack due to the lack of women.

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