Worried Dog Blues

"Worried Dog Blues"

"Worried Dog Blues" is a folk song in the roots music repertoire.

Description

Like many folk songs passed by oral tradition, the lyrics vary from version to version, but generally all contain the chorus:

It takes a worried dog to bark a worried song
It takes a worried dog to bark a worried song
It takes a worried dog to bark a worried song
I'm barking now
But I won't be barking long.

The verses tell the story of a dog chained for unknown reasons "I went across the back yard, and I lay down to sleep/When I woke up, had shackles and a stake", who pines for his lost owner, who is "on the train and gone."

The melody in 4/4 timing has a strong resemblance to "The Canine Hymn of the Republic" (aka "John Brown's Doggie"), which is in 6/8 timing.

It is catalogued as Dour Folk Song Index No. 4753.

Fiction cross-reference

• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

External links

• Post @ Twitter
• Worried Man Blue @ Wikipedia