I had an old dog and his name was Blue,

voiceCollected by M. C. Parler Mrs. Retha Hanna West Fork, Ark. Aug. 18, 1959 Reel 315, Item 1 Old Blue I had an old dog and his name was Blue, I’m going to tell you what Old Blue could do. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. Late one evening about four o’clock, I woke up and I heard Blue bark. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. I got my lantern and I went to see; Old Blue had a possum up a 'simmon tree. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. I got that possum and I b’iled him down; I laid sweet ’taters all around his hams. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. I gave Old Blue the biggest piece; Old Blue got sick And I sent for the doctor To come quick. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. The doctor come and he come in a run; He said, Old Blue, your huntin’s done. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. Old Blue he died and he died awful hard; He dug little holes all over the yard. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. I dug his grave with a silver spade; And I let him down with a golden chain. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. When I get to heaven, I’ll blow my horn; Old Blue’ll come a-running', shore as you're born. Old Blue, Old Blue, Old Blue. "I heard this when I was a small child. Mr. Charlie Bailey sang this song."Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation