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Wyozark - Posted - 01/17/2020: 07:16:14
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” ~ Will Rogers
For all its history associated with Missouri, I guess this song kinda fell off the table and rolled under the couch – at least as far as I’m concerned. Born and raised in Missouri, I’d never heard of it until I came across it on page 19 of the Mel Bay instruction book “Frailing the 5 String Banjo” by Muller and Koehler (1973). 
It is used early in the book to teach how to use the thumb on the fifth string. And so early, early in my banjo learning did I learn to play this song. However it created an unwelcome “ear worm” for Mrs. Wyozark, and thereafter this song has been referred to as “that banjo song which must not be played.” At least when Mrs. Wyozark is around. . .
I thought at first it would be an easy thing to track down the composer of this song. Not so. Was it composed by James Bland, composer of “Dem Golden Slippers”, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” and “In the Evening by the Moonlight”? Maybe.
Others have claimed to have written it, and that it was possibly based on a true incident. Perhaps it was written by “Lige” Spencer of Ozark County, Missouri who claimed that he wrote it and pointed to the dog to prove it. Lige claimed that the stress of being so famous for having written the song was so great that he had to move from Missouri.
Or maybe, according to Alan Lomax, “Some say ‘The Hound Dawg Song,’ a favourite (sic) Ozark mountain song, originated before the Civil War, when a country boy named Zeke Parish had a tussle with a townie, who had kicked his dog.”
Lomax continues, “Old Aaron Weatherman, Swan Post Office, Taney County, Missouri, concurs -- "I was there and knowed Zeke and his paw and the hound, too. (However) “Some of his neighbours laugh at old Zeke and say that "The Hound Dawg Song" is a recently composed piece, while others swear that Daniel Boone brought the song to Missouri.”
I had to check this out. Was it true? I visited Daniel Boone’s grave site. If he had brought the Hound Dog Song to Missouri it would surely be mentioned in his epitaph as a significant event. Hmmm. No mention of it. . . .
Claims to the song are numerous enough that I can’t sort them all out. But I did enjoy the old newspaper article where Senator Knute Nelson (MN, 1843-1923) stated that the “Missouri Hound Dawg” song was first sung by the ancient Norsemen, who chanted it as they went into battle.” As Dave Barry says, “I’m not making this up.” 
Using this tenuous information* it would probably be quite acceptable to wear a Viking helmet with horns while playing a banjo. Start here. . . .
The song’s connection to Missouri was firm enough that it was associated with the Second Missouri Infantry, called up in 1916 to serve under General “Black Jack” Pershing (a Missouri native) on the Mexican border to hunt down Pancho Villa.
It is reported the song was sung by the troops on their march. Through many reorganizations over the last hundred years the 203rd Engineer Battalion (MoANG) is known as the "The Houn’ Dawg Regiment" and the motto is
"Don't Kick Our Dog"
The song really came into prominence in 1912 when Missouri representative “Champ” Clark used it in his presidential campaign. Though Clark went into the Democratic convention with the majority of delegates, he couldn’t get the two thirds needed for the nomination, which eventually went to Woodrow Wilson.
Wait. Doesn’t the sheet music say that Webb Oungst and Cy Perkins wrote the song? Yes, but it may be that they just were the first to copyright it. As I said, the origins are pretty murky. I’d love to hear from others who may have some additional information and sources.
The song has been recorded by many over the years. The earliest recording I can find is from 1912 by Bryan G. Harlan and the American Quartet. As you listen to this be sure to read down through the really interesting comments about this song.
Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers Lickers had a version in 1926.
My very favorite version by the Swedish Old Time String Band the Turf Rollers!
I thought the worst version was by the New Christy Minstrels, and I’m not going to bother to link it.
Lula Belle (of Lula Belle and Scotty country performer duo) recorded this version in 1986.
The Empty Bottle String Band does a good job with it. Unfortunately, there's no barking!
The Oldtime Stringband of the Netherlands. Excellent fun!
Francis and John Reedy. I thought this was kinda sweet.
And here’s a BHO favorite: Leroy Troy
If you ain't smilin by the end of "Jim Dawg" here, well you must be particularly grumpy today. . .
That’s enough I guess, and you may even have an ear worm by now. There are so many versions in different styles that I don’t have time to explore them all. Some were just kind of weird. (I’m talking to you Terry Hall and Mushtaq!!). Even Bob Dylan had a version on his Basement Tapes. I couldn’t find it online to listen to it. Based on a written description it may have sounded like a bunch of guys in a basement stoned out of their minds and barking like dogs. Perhaps someone here can explain what the true facts are. . .
ANYWAY
The lyrics tell a story:
Once me & Lem Briggs and ol' Bill Brown,
We took us a load of corn to town.
My old Jim dog, the ornery cuss,
He just naturally follered us.
As we drove past the general store,
A passel of yaps came out the door.
Old Jim stopped to smell of a box,
They shot at him a bunch of rocks.
Chorus:
Everytime I go to town,
The boys keep kickin' my dog around.
It makes no difference if he is a hound,
They've gotta quit kickin' my dog around.
They tied a can to his tail,
And ran him past the county jail.
That plumb naturally made me sore.
Lem, he cussed, and Bill he swore.
Well, me Lem Briggs and old Bill Brown,
Lost no time in hoppin' down.
We whupped them town ducks up on the ground
For kickin' my old Jim dog around.
Chorus
OK folks. Don’t forget to bark!!!
There are a handful of clawhammer banjo tabs available. An online source can be found here: Hound Dog Song It appears to be identical to that found in the Mel Bay book mentioned previously.
One more online source is here: Missouri Hound Dog Song
Perhaps someone with more skill than I would be kind enough to post a simple clawhammer style tab suitable for singing and barking along.
Here is a site that has the chords.
And, just to confirm Missouri’s fondness of dogs, I’ll note that Missouri attorney George Graham Vest won a case for his client with his “Tribute to a Dog” speech in 1870 in Johnson County, Missouri. Much like the song, the story tells of a beloved dog that suffered injury. Of all that I have written today, this may be the only (approximate) truth that you will find on this page: Old Drum
There is a monument to the dog “Old Drum” on the Johnson County, Missouri courthouse yard.
Here is Walter Brennan reading a part of George Vest’s speech. Ok. I have to go dry my eyes. . .
And now finally, I must include what I think is a version on a French television show. Normally I’d think that it’d be so easy to stereotype and lampoon us Americans. . . . but folks! Our European friends truly understand us! I felt like I was really at home in downtown Branson watching this. The gunfire added some authenticity. Enjoy!
*Folks, old Knute was pulling your leg.
Edited by - Wyozark on 01/17/2020 11:02:25
JanetB - Posted - 01/19/2020: 11:29:45
A+ presentation, Michael! I first heard Piney Creek Weasels do this song -- something so fun-loving about it. For an arrangement I used Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers and enjoyed the Disney animation, too. My tab is in double C tuning and it played along in the same key as Lula Belle, though I tuned down a step for this recording.
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