The first person who explains this song with the most coherent analysis (BF staff excluded, since Charles is an expert) wins a prize: 3 OG signed photocards with matching envelopes; music CD: Best of Blogfinger ,or OG car magnet. Here’s Leon Redbone with “Aw You Salty Dog” : —PG
(Hint: here is one part of the lyric: “God made a woman and he made her funny,
Lips ’round her mouth sweeter than honey, You salty dog, you salty dog.”)
I’m pretty sure this song is about a guy who keeps trying to get a girl, but can’t find one who will let him be her “Salty Dog.” I believe part of the lyrics also include “(Ever tried) lookin’ for a stone in the sand, it’s like trying to find a woman who ain’t got no man,” i.e., where are all the single ladies? All these girls keep teasing him and then telling him “No.”
In the old “Blues” tunes this guy’s question is for his lady friend to let him be her sexual partner. Check your folklore.
Not really sure how it fits with the song, but a “Salty Dog” or “Old Salt” are terms for an older sailor. Nice to hear some Leon Redbone. I listened to his Shine On Harvest Moon frequently.
I first heard this song on the bluegrass record by Flatt and Scruggs, with lots of great banjo in it. The lyric as they sang it was, “Let me be your salty dog or I won’t be your man at all.” The truth is, Paul, that I’ve never had any idea what that means. I’ll be grateful if someone out there in Blogfingerland comes up with the answer.