Almanac Music: Nothin’ But A Hound Dog – Songs Concerning Animals
Almanac Music: Nothin’ But A Hound Dog – Songs Concerning Animals
This week’s piece about key popular song themes involves songs that in some way concern animals, whether it be in the title or in the lyrics.
So, wonderful readers, please put your relevant ‘songs concerning animals’ in the ‘Comments’ section.
‘Hound Dog’, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, performed by Elvis Presley (1956)
Originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952 and released in 1953, this much-recorded song is pioneering in relation to the history of rock’n’roll. Elvis Presley had a particularly big hit with the number a few years after Thornton.
‘Bird Dog’, written by Boudleaux Bryant and performed by the Everly Brothers (1958)
Sublime brotherly harmonies were so often the icing on the cake in terms of the Everly Brothers guitar-based sound – this song about a reprehensible friend is no exception.
‘Wild Horses’, written by Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Gram Parsons, performed by the Rolling Stones (1971)
A lovely, drifty country-rock number by the Stones – utterly transporting.
‘Diamond Dogs’, written and performed by David Bowie (1974)
I love it when Bowie does a rocker along these lines – the song reminds me of ‘Suffragette City’ from a couple of years earlier.
‘Cats in the Cradle’, written by Harry and Sandra Chapin, performed by Harry Chapin (1974)
Part of of the soundtrack of the seventies, this folk number is an archetypal ‘father and son’ song.
‘Year of the Cat’, written by Al Stewart and Peter Wood, performed by Al Stewart (1976)
Moody folk rock-song from Al Stewart. One of so many songs that formed the fabric of my adolescence.
‘The Horses’, written by Rickie Lee Jones and Walter Becker, performed by Daryl Braithwaite (1991)
Not a personal favourite, the Daryl Braithwaite version of this song has nevertheless attained iconic status in Australia.
‘Roar’, written by Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee and Henry Walter, performed by Katy Perry (2013)
Great chorus, indeed, great pop song, with a fine accompanying film clip featuring a very attractive Katy in a jungle outfit – what’s not to like?
Now, wonderful readers (and listeners) – over to you. Your responses to this topic are warmly welcomed. In the ‘Comments’ section, please add your own choice of a song (or songs) involving animals, along with any other relevant material you wish to include.
[Note: Wikipedia has been a good general reference for this piece, particularly in relation to checking dates and other details.]
For more from Kevin, click HERE.
Read more stories from Almanac Music HERE
If you would like to receive the Almanac Music and Poetry newsletter we will add you to the list. Please email us: [email protected]
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, which was published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
A few animal songs have quickly come to mind KD.
‘Walking the Dog’ – The Rolling Stones / Rufus Thomas
‘Chestnut Mare’ – The Byrds
‘A Horse with No Name’ – America
‘What’s New Pussycat?’ – Tom Jones
‘Alley Cat’ – Bent Fabric
‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ – many
‘Fox on the Run’ – Manfred Mann
‘Li’l Red Riding Hood’ – Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs
Love your picks Kevin – especially Year Of The Cat – one of my all time favourite songs.
For openers, I thought I might set the scene:
Man Gave Names To All The Animal – Bob Dylan (of course, but also covered by The Wiggles!).
(Animals in the song include: bear, cow, bull, pig, sheep. And while not actually mentioned – what is a slithering animal that rhymes with ‘lake’?)
Thanks Col, for opening the batting here. Nice range of choices, too. I feel this week’s theme is going to unearth a great deal of interesting material.
Thank you, Karl, for your response. Glad you love my picks – I must admit that this week the theme proved to be quite inspirational for me. And your Dylan choice, ‘Man Gave Names To All The Animals’, is absolutely ‘spot on’ in terms of the topic, of course.
Giddy Up Ding Dong – Freddy Bell and the Bell Boys
Snoopy vs the Red Baron – The Royal Guardsman
The Cat came Back – Tex Morton
I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas – Gayla Peevey
Just a few that readily come to mind
Another song title of “Fox on the Run” – Sweet
“Curiosity Killed the Cat” – Little River Band
“Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport” – Rolf Harris
“Eagle Rock” – Daddy Cool
Several AFL club theme songs have types of animals in their lyrics:
Brisbane Lions (Lions), Collingwood (Magpies), Hawthorn (Hawks), Richmond (TIgerland),
Sydney (Swans), Western Bulldogs (Bulldogs), West Coast Eagles (Eagles)
Thanks, Fisho, for this selection of songs. To pick out one for more comment; “Snoopy vs the Red Baron’ was a childhood favorite of mine.
Thank you, Anonymous – your main choices were all big songs in their day. Really like the AFL connection you made, too.
And the iconic ‘Eagle Rock’ made me think of the roughly contemporary Russell Morris song, ‘Wings of an Eagle’ – another beauty.
Bird Dog – Everley Brothers
Eagle – ABBA
Sparrow in the Tree Top – Guy Mitchell
The Ball Bearing Bird – Frankie Davidson
Thanks again, Fisho.
I picked ‘Bird Dog’ in my initial list. Interestingly, ‘The Ball Bearing Bird’ was another of my childhood favourites.
Here’s a couple more where animals are mentioned
Mad Passionate Love – Bernard Bresslaw
My Boomerang Won’t Come Back (I can ride a kangaroo) – Charlie Drake
Thanks for this Kev.
From the Blues catalogue
Black Snake Moan – Blind Lemon Jefferson
Chicken Shack Boogie – Amos Milburn
Catfish Blues – Robert Petway + many artists
The Chicken and the Hawk – Big Joe Turner
Little Red Rooster – Willie Dixon
Crawling King Snake – John Lee Hooker
The Whale Has Swallowed Me – J B Lenoir/Janiva Magness
From The Beatles
I Am The Walrus
Blackbird
Rocky Racoon
From Left Field
See You Later Alligator – Bobby Charles
The Fish – Bobby Rydell
Bluebird – Buffalo Springfield
My Dog and Me – John Hiatt and the Goners
Dolphins – Tim Buckley
There are many others
The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens
Old Shep – Elvis
Bird On A Wire – Leonard Cohen
Cheers
Great, Fisho – keep ’em rolling in!
A wonderful and eclectic selection, Peter. Many thanks for all of these. There’s certainly some great listening here!
Great call KD, this could go on for a while! Some excellent examples are already coming through.
Here’s a few more:
Beware of the Dogs, Stella Donnelly
Give Me Back My Dog, Slbberbone
Silver Palomino, Springsteen
Strange Night, Warner
Waiting for the Cyclone, Warner
African Summer, Warner
Kangaroo Hop, Warner
Pony, Kasey Chambers
Red Pony, The Triffids
and one of the saddest and most beautiful song ever, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank.
Jonathon Livingston Seagull – Neil Diamond
The Little White Bull – Tommy Steele
Three Dog Night (Jeremiah was a Bullfrog) – Joy to the World
I am the Tiger – ABBA
Leader of The Pack has an element of animalism in it.
I offer this as Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las & lead singer on ‘Leader Of The Pack’, passed away in the past week at age 75.
Melanie
Animal Crackers
I Don’t Eat Animals – Melanie was a vegetarian
Alexandra Beetle – from the acclaimed 1972 Candles In The Rain album
Sadly, Melanie also passed away a few days ago at age 76.
Isn’t there one about a redback on the toilet seat?
“Hey Hey We’re the Monkees” (monkey in the lyrics) – Monkees
“Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
“Honky Cat” – Elton John
“Rock Lobster” – The B-52’s
“Bat Out of Hell” – Meatloaf
“How Much Is That Doggie in The Window?” – Patti Page, Lita Roza
“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” – Elvis Presley
“Cool For Cats” – Squeeze
“Disco Duck” – Ric Dees & His Cast of Idiots
“Hungry Like The Wolf” – Duran Duran
“Puppy Love” – Donny Osmond
“Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Gene Autry and The Pinafores
“Year Of The Cat” – Al Stewart
I left out Adelaide (Crows) theme song earlier with Crows in the lyrics.
Cheers, Rick. Fine contribution, as always. Always pleasing to see DW represented well. (Was also happy to receive a nice birthday greeting from Dave via Facebook recently, accompanied by a song about beer!)
I agree with you that this ‘animals’ theme could be a really big one in terms of songs.
Beyond the Daryl Braithwaite/Ricki Lee Jones classic there are many songs about racehorses.
Levon Helm twangs for The Band’s “Up on Cripple Creek”
“Odds were in my favor
I had ’em five to one
And that nag to win came around the track
Sure enough we had won”
US Civil War era composer Stephen Foster wrote “Camptown Races” – “bet my money on a bob tailed nag, somebody bet on the grey – doo da, doo da”
Peter, Paul and Mary did a version of the traditional Stewball:
“Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.” (careful not to knock over his wine glass Evie!)
Australians love to immortalise their champion racehorses. From the 1970’s Tex Morton had “The Goondiwindi Grey” about Cox Plate and prolific winner Gunsynd (trained by Gai Waterhouse’s father TJ Smith).
Racecaller Johnny Tapp celebrated dual Interdominion winning pacer Hondo Grattan (the Bathurst Bulldog) with go, go, go “Little Hondo”
Thank you again, Fisho.
And your selection of ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’ reminded me of a relevant song by Australian Bob Hudson – ‘Jonathan Livingston Budgerigar’. It’s a beauty, from his Newcastle Song album.
Thanks again, Karl for both the additional songs and the information. Sad to hear about the deaths of Mary Weiss and Melanie.
Thank you, Jim W, regarding the redback song. Bit of an Oz classic.
Cheers, Anonymous, for the additional songs – you’re in good song picking form. (Small note: ‘Year of the Cat’ is on my initial list.)
Many thanks, Peter B, for introducing the racehorse / harness racing sub-theme. Good call!. (If the mighty Hondo Grattan got a song. you’d reckon Paleface Adios deserved his own song, too, wouldn’t you – though he does get a mention near the end of the Hondo number.)
Hey PB, re race horses in song, we must include Fairytale of New York. Cheers
Mister Ed Theme – Jay Livingston
Rocking Robin – Bobby Day
Purple People Eater – Sheb Woolley
Fancy me forgetting OLD MAN EMU – John Williamson.
Thanks again, Fisho.
You’re evoking childhood memories from me today. I remember the Williamson ‘Old Man Emu’ single in our family record collection – the B-side of the single was a good song called ‘Under the Bridge, about a swagman.
Seeing John Williamson has been mentioned – here’s a few more from one of our finest singer-songwriters:
W-W-Wallaby
Gallery Of Pink Galahs – one of my faves!
The Budgie Song
Crocodile Roll
Dingo
Camel Train to Yamba
Koala Koala
Goodbye Blinky Bill
When My Horse Came In – this is a horse racing song as well.
Looks like this could be a never-ending topic KD. I’ve still got plenty up my sleeve :).
BTW – are ‘humans’ animals?
Thank you, Karl. Good to see some more Williamson in the overall songlist.
For the purposes of this particular discussion, we’ll consider humans and ‘animals’ as separate. If we didn’t, the discussion would become unworkable.
A few more KD (it looks like birds and insects are also allowed)
Animal Boy – Ramones
Love Cats – Cure
All Cats Are Grey – Cure
Animal Nitrate – Suede
Animals – Talking Heads
Apeman – Kinks
Cat People – Bowie
Cattle and Cane – Go-Betweens
Wild Cats of Kilkenny – Pogues
Can Your Pussy Do The Dog – Cramps
Dog Eat Dog – Adam and the Ants
Hey Bulldog – Beatles
I Wanna Be Your Dog – Stooges
Size of a Cow – Wonder Stuff
Cowtown – They Might Be Giants
Year of the Bloated Goat – Laughing Clowns
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway – Genesis
War Pigs – Black Sabbath
Pegasus – Ross Ryan
Cold Turkey – Plastic Ono Bag
Alligator Engine – Hunters and Collectors
Birdhouse In Your Soul – They Might Be Giants
Surfin’ Bird – Ramones/Trashmen
Swan, Swan, Hummingbird – REM
Rattlesnakes – Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
I Am The Fly – Wire
that’ll do
Brilliant, Swish. great list – yes, a wonderful playlist in itself!
Shannon, Henry Gross
I Wouldn’t Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me), Bobby Bland
Mr Rabbit, Paul Westerberg
Born in the USA, Bruce
Tweeter and the Monkey Man, The Travelling Wilburys
Excellent, Rick – the more, the merrier, as I always say in these themed songlist contexts.
Some great songs have been mentioned that bring back great memories of a time long past…I especially got a good vibe with The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Eagle Rock, Love Cats, Apeman & I Am Pegasus.
Another in that ilk is:
Me & You & A Dog Named Boo – Lobo (he also did a song called ‘Gus, The Dancing Dog’)
An obvious one that seems to have been missed along the way:
Octopus’s Garden – Beatles of course
And one, that is very ‘out of court’ but qualifies in a strange way:
Yakety Yak – The Coasters
Old MacDonald Had a Farm – sung by so many
Mack the Knife – Bobby Darin
I am the Walrus – Beatles
Tennessee Wig Walk – Bonney Lou
I had also thought of “Old McDonald Had a Farm” earlier today but wasn’t sure if nursery rhymes were eligible.
If children’s nursery rhymes are eligible, then you can add “Mary had a little lamb” and “Ba Ba Black Sheep”.
For TV cartoon song themes, there’s “King Kong: Ten Times as Big as a Man”, “Felix the Cat”, “Scooby-Doo Theme Song” and “The Catanooga Cats”.
For a children’s TV song theme, there’s “What a funny old fella is Humphrey”, with bear in the lyrics.
I forgot to mention more TV songs in “Flipper” about a dolphin and “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo”.
Never Smile at a Crocodile – the Paulette Sisters.
Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’ – Gordon Macrea
Stagger Lee – Lloyd Price
Rawhide – Frankie Laine
Mule Train – Frankie Laine.
“A Hard Days Night” – The Beatles, as it has “And I’ve been working like a dog”, in the lyrics.
“See you later, Alligator” – Bill Haley & His Comets.
“Who Let the Dogs Out”, released in the year 2000, by Bahamian junkanoo band Baha Men.
–
Thanks, Karl. Yes, it seems that many of the ‘animal songs’ mentioned evoke a past time for us – perhaps the role of animals in popular song has lessened over the years. I’m not sure.
Choosing ‘Yakety Yak” was nicely ‘left field’, too!
Many thanks, Fisho and Anonymous, for your latest contributions.You’ve been commendably active in the discussion of this theme, which is certainly a major one.
The Australiana spoken word comedy (song) by Austen Tayshus, written by Billy Birmingham. It has koala bear, dingoe, cockatoo, platypus, wombat and goanna in the lyrics.
Good one, Anon – a very worthy inclusion.
To continue Peter B’s equine eisteddfod
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
“Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won”
Apparently not written about Mick Jagger
And Russell Morris, who flew on the Wings of an Eagle, recorded Big Red, about Pharlap on his brilliant album Sharkmouth.
With OZ Day behind us, it’s time to consider the Dylan anthology. This first part has ‘animals’ in the song title:
Black Crow Blues – a minor work off ‘Another Side’ but the first where Dylan plays piano.
Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat – a masterpiece of inside-out innuendo and twisted double-entendre (Rolling Stone)
All The Tired Horses – opening track on Self Portrait: 2 lines of lyric sung 15 times by 3 female singers
Day Of The Locusts – ‘yeah, the locusts sang & they were singing for me’
If Dogs Run Free – there’s a cute kids book based on this song
Catfish – about Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Catfish Hunter
New Pony – ;her name was Lucifer’ – not one of Bob’s better efforts
Cats In The Well – some say it apocalyptic – I think they might be right!
Thanks, Peter C – good ones! The ‘equine angle’ is working profitably in relation to this discussion.
How have we missed Stray Cat Strut by the Stray Cats?
Glen!
Certainly a fine thing to get a Dylan take on this week’s theme, Karl. Thanks for the detailed info in his respect.
Saint George and the Dragon- Net – Stan Freberg.
Blue Birds over the Mountain – Richie Valens.
She Wears Red Feathers (whilst 6 baboons got out bassoons and played here comes the bride).
Semi Detached Suburban Mister James (taking doggie for a walk) – Manfred Mann.
Here’s a few more – The Dinosaur Song – Johnny Cash.
Brontosaurus Stomp – The Piltdown Men.
The 12 Days of Christmas – Bing Crosby
High Hopes – Frank Sinatara.
Thanks, Glen!
Thank you, Fisho, very big effort!.
Dogs – The Who
Boris the spider – The Who
Bluebird – Electric Light Orchestra
Songbird – Jeff Lynne’s ELO
The fox – Electric Light Orchestra Part II
Sparrow – Simon and Garfunkel
To the Last Whale: Critical Mass/Wind on the Water – Crosby and Nash
Other songs that have an animal in the title:
Eye of the tiger – Survivor
Wild tiger woman – The Move
After the Dolphin – Crosby Stills and Nash
The Whale – an Electric Light Orchestra instrumental
The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) – Yes
Old King – Neil Young
Even A Dog Can Shake Hands – Warren Zevon
Epitaph to a Dog – Lord Byron
Maybe Tomorrow (Theme Song from The Littlest Hobo) – Terry Bush
I noticed Ross Ryan’s 1974 classic I am Pegasus, got a mention earlier.
On the Crackajacks first and only album, Little Heart Attacks, I reckon they did a cover of the Carl Perkins classic Go Cat Go.
Of course there was Richard Clapton’s, Goodbye Tiger.
Glen!
Liam’s mention of ‘The Whale’ reminded me of:
Last Great American Whale – Lou Reed
Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
Six white Boomers – Rolf Harris.
Multiplication – Bobby Darin
Cheers, Liam – a nicely varied bunch of songs from you – and always interesting to see material Lynne/ELO came up with in connection to the theme concerned.
Hi, DB. Particularly interesting bunch of material – loved the Young and Zevon inclusions, and the Byron poem (you slipped that in!), while The Littlest Hobo song had kitsch appeal.
Thanks again to Glen (I really like ‘Goodbye Tiger’), Karl (wonderful Reed song) and Fisho (‘Pretty Flamingo’ an especially good pick).
Dog- Hunters & Collectors
Mind the Spider- Hoodoo Gurus
Bulls On Parade – Rage Against the Machine (unofficial theme song of the Pomborneit Bulls)
Don’t think these have been listed:
Spiders & Snakes – Jim Stafford
Do-Re-Mi, with it’s classic opening line: Doe, a deer, a female deer
Thank you, Luke – it’s always good to have you on board. I really like your two fine Oz selections, especially the Hunters one.
And jeez, what a full-on song the Pombo Bulls have as their unofficial theme song!
Thank you for your latest two, Karl – mentioning Do-Re-Mi reminded me of the Oz band of the same name and their song ‘Cuttlefish Beach’ from the Domestic Harmony album.
I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door – Eddie Hodgers
The Ballad of Davy Crockett – Fess Parker
Ta, Fisho. Yep, certainly various animals mentioned in those two songs.
Exemplary Do-Re-Mi segue KD. Although unfamiliar with the songs, a quick scan of Do-Re-Mi’s catalogue reveals:
Fish Tank
Black Crocodiles
(off the 1985 Man Overboard single)
Bill The Cat
(off the 1986 Guns & Butter single)
Cheers. Thanks, Karl!
Kacey Musgraves – High Horse, Butterflies, I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Brandi Carlile – Broken Horses, Mama Werewolf
Ashey Monroe – Pony
Ashley McBryde – Sparrow, If These Dogs Could Talk
Margo Price – Black Wolf Blues
Miranda Lambert – Bluebird, For the Birds
Amanda Shires – Ghost Bird, Bees in the Shed, The Garden Song, White Feather, Hawks for the Dove
Dolly Parton – Little Sparrow, Raven Dove, Gypsy, Joe and Me, Snakes in the Grass and Free Bird (yes the Lynard Skynyrd song) from her latest album which is damn good.
Buy Me A Pony – Spiderbait (loved that as an 18 year old in 1997)
A Cat Called No – Custard (A more recent favourite from a great Covid album)
Excellent – Rick. Thanks. I’ll have to check out Dolly’s latest album, too. I’m always interested in what she does.
Thanks again, Luke..Two good songs. Interesting how in ‘Buy Me a Pony’, there’s no mention of ponies whatsoever.
Surprising that no one had added the Michael Jackson hit ‘Ben’ (about a rat) to our list. Someone mentioned it on my Facebook page.
Simon Smith & His Amazing Dancing Bear also seems a surprising omission.
Jethro Tull did heaps of ‘animal’ songs. Two worth a listen are:
Mother Goose – off Aqualung
One White Duck/0″ = Nothing At All – off Minstrel In The Gallery (I love this album)
Thanks, Karl, for your latest three.
Thinking about it further, I suppose there’s bound to be quite a few surprising omissions, given the huge size of the animal theme.
Peace Frog and Celebration of the Lizard-The Doors
Thanks, Richard, for these selections from an iconic band.
Paper Tiger – Sue Thompson
Puff the Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul and Mary
The Woody Woodpecker Song – Gloria Wood
Lambert the Sheepish Lion – Anne Lloyd.
My research assistant tells me two Pixies songs have been missed: Monkey Gone To Heaven, and Caribou.
Also, Keep Your Eye on The Sparrow, Jimmy Cliff.
Children of Children, by Jason Isbell.
The End, The Doors. (Ride the snake…)
I see this list is getting a tad weird…..I’ve been keeping my classic Dylan ‘lyrics’ contribution on the animal theme for the right time – & this looks like the time is right:
Blowin’ In The Wind – how many seas must a white dove sail
A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall – I saw a white man who walked a black dog/I saw a new born baby with wild wolves all around it
One Too Many Mornings – down the street the dogs are barking and the day is getting dark
Love Minus Zero/No Limit – my love she’s like some raven, at my window with a broken wing
Like A Rolling Stone – who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
All Along The Watchtower – outside in the distance, a wild cat did growl
Thank you one more time, Fisho and Karl – great stuff. You both deserve special commendation in terms of this animal theme. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Hi AJC. You’re certainly fortunate to have a research assistant! Thanks for the songs, especially The End, one of the trippiest popular songs of all time.
“Jingle Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms, one horse open sleigh in the lyrics.
“Rhinestone Cowboy” – Glen Campbell, riding out a horse on in a star-spangled rodeo in the lyrics.
TV themes in “Spider-Man” does whatever a spider can, “Batman”, “Play School”, there’s a bear in there in the lyrics.
“Black Superman (Muhammad Ali) song, he floats a butterfly and stings like a bee in the lyrics.
TV jingles:
“Louis the fly”
“Snappy Tom”, the cats of Australia have made their choice, in the lyrics.
“Birds Eye Fish Fingers”
“Cadbury Wouldn’t it be nice jingle”, wouldn’t it be nice if the world were Cadbury? Chocolate roads and trees and birds and bees”, in the lyrics.
“They call me Caramello jingle”, ‘I’m a smooth kind of koala” in the lyrics.
“I feel like chicken tonight jingle”
“Wind Beneath My Wings’ – Bette Midler, “ fly higher than an eagle”, in the lyrics.
Thanks. Anonymous – fine lot of additions, many of them from the advertising realm.
“Seasons in the Sun” – Terry Jacks (birds, black fish and starfish in the lyrics)
“From a Distance” – Bette Midler (“And the Eagle takes to flight” in the lyrics)
Cheers, Anon – the songs continue…
Cradle of Love – Johnny Preston
What is Love (five feet of heaven in a pony tail) – The Playmates.
Hey KD, this theme is addictive so here are a few more. All excellent songs and artists.
Tiger by the Tail, Buck Owens
El Paso, Marty Robbins
Elephant, Jason Isbell
Ticks, Brad Paisley
One Trick Pony Paul Simon
Bodies, Sex Pistols
Chasing Wild Horses, Bruce
Andy’s Gone with Cattle, Tex Morgan
Click Go the Shears, Slim Dusty and many others
Puppy and a Truck, Jenny Lewis
Matamoros Banks, Bruce
Moby’s Dick, Led Zep
Black Dog, Led Zep
Ride a White Swan, T Rex
Bring on the Dancing Horses, Echo and the Bunnymen
Space Monkey, John Prine
Sneaky Snake, Tom T
Fox on the Run, Tom T
Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues, Dylan
Kookaburra Girl, Warner
Seems like everytime I do some digging into an album/artist I find an animal song…I was looking into twin brothers (Paul & Barry Ryan – Paul wrote & Barry sang the classic late 60’s song ‘Eloise’). On their 1967 ‘Two Of A Kind’ album, there is a song called:
Fifi The Flea – ‘fifi the flea fell in love with a clown from the flea circus fair’
For the record, ‘Fifi The Flea’ was originally recorded by The Hollies – and has Graham Nash on lead vocals.
Other The Hollies animal songs are:
Pegasus
Butterfly
Crocodile Woman (She Bites)
“Physical” by Olivia Newton John has “Let’s get into animall” in the lyrics. Of course, she was an activist for animal rights.
Thank you for the additional substantial list, Rick. Excellent stuff!
I think you’re so right in terms of the addictive nature of the animal theme – perhaps it’s because of the close connection we humans often feel with the animal world. (And, yes, I know, of course, that according to some definitions we are animals, too.)
Karl – yep, animal songs just about everywhere – the more one looks, the more one finds. Kind of opposite to the Eastern / George Harrison dictum: ‘the farther one travels, the less one knows,’ but George was talking more mystically here, I suppose!
Anon – yes, ‘Physical’ sneaks a guernsey because of its animal reference.
Rick – your additional list made me think of ‘Flash Jack from Gundagai’, primarily about sheep and shearing and a particular shearer, and still widely sung in folk circles, I imagine. I love the jaunty, catchy nature of the song’s 6/8 time signature, too.
Way too much recency bias in all these suggestions. How has no-one put forward our National Anthem “Waltzing Matilda” and grabbed those jolly jumbucks with glee?
And who doesn’t like a chorus of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” at Christmas.
Judy Garland made her name remembering “Somewhere Over the Rainbow, blue birds fly”.
And the magnificent Deme Vera Lynn warmed the heart of every WW2 serviceman by reassuring them there were “Blue Birds over the White Cliffs of Dover”.
Though Jim Capaldi from Traffic sadly trashed Dame Vera’s memory with his “Whale Meat Again” travesty.
Thanks, PB – always good to see you ‘stirring the possum’, to use a fitting expression (if I do say so myself).
Who will send the next comment / song choice(s) to this discussion, so that all contributors can raise the bat in a communally made century?
Dear Almanacker In Chief,
Has an Almanac thread ever reached the ton in the Almanac website’s long and glorious history?
As KD and I were the batters at the crease when this milestone was reached, when do we receive our door prize?
Mitch Marsh teared up over the Alan Border Medal – is there an Almanac version? The North Fitzroy Arms Cup? The PJ Flynn Mug? The Definite Rulebook – signed first edition?
I have long thought an Almanacker of the Year award would be good marketing, until realising that the judging/voting process would be more corrupt than Russian elections.
Yours expectantly.
Why stop at 100 – Don never did…
C – Monkey And The Underdog
S – Fishes & Scorpions
N – Wounded Bird
&
Y – Ride My Llama
Not sure if any of the following have been mentioned:
Playing possum: Carly Simon (I know it’s an expression rather than an animal reference)
Dig a pony: The Beatles
Elephant: Tame Impala
“Our Don Bradman” – (3rd line of the lyrics is “Now is it Amy Johnson, or little Mickey Mouse?”).
Hoping this song can get a guernsey for the mouse reference.
Slim Dusty’s Melbourne Cup song mentioned horses in the lyrics but unfortunately Mike Brady’s “First Tuesday in November when they run the Melbourne Cup”,
doesn’t mention horses in the lyrics, but the song concerns racehorses for the Melbourne Cup.
There was also a TV jingle, “Cats Keep Coming Back for Whispers”.
Peter B – ha ha ha – wonderful stuff! For being there upon the achievement of the century, you’d reckon we’d at least get our names on the Honour Board in the Footy Almanac Long Room (if there was one).
Very honourable mentions to Fisho, Karl, Anonymous and Rick Kane, and, indeed, everyone involved in terms of the hundred, too.
Big thanks to Karl, Liam H and Anon, for your latest additions.
(Liam, I just had a quick look through the comments for this animal theme and couldn’t see your most recent selections anywhere.)
Hey KD – just as well you are NOT allowing ‘Artists or Albums Concerning Animals’ eg:
Cat Stevens, who released Teaser & The Firecat as well as Catch Bull At 4;
otherwise you’d be well on your way to a double ton!
Yes, Karl – with those categories in play, I’d have to employ a secretary to respond to Almanackers’ comments!
Trying Hard! Apologies if doubled up.
Shout Bamalama Otis Redding chicken references.
Ride the Pony Lee Dorsey
Rock and Roll Animal Lou Reed
Bo Didley Caught A Nanny Goat and a Bearcat.
Mocking Bird Taylor/Simon and others
Wings of a Dove Ferlin Husky
The Unicorn Irish Rovers
The Monkey Dave Bartholomnew
Eric Burdon Monterey The Byrds They Fly
Manfred Mann Singing the Dolphins Through
Beast of Burden The Stones
Return to Pooh Corner Kenny Loggins
Nightingale Roxy Music
Walking the Whippet Andy McKay
Cat Steven’s Love my Dog
Don Woody Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Land of Make Believe Moody Blues So Fly Little Bird
And one for the millenials Harry Styles Daylight If I was a Bluebird
Cheers
Frank
But there’s more!
Luv Mason Snowbird – The love Moth.
Elusive Butterfly of Love Bob Lind
Bat Out If Hell Meatloaf
Ben Michael Jackson
Run Rabbit Run Flanagan and Allen
Black Dog Led Z
Pampered Menial Album Pavlov’s Dog
Taking Tiger Mountain Brian Eno
Muleskinner Blues Jimmie Rodgers.
Oh there’s always more. It’s become an addiction. A Holy Modal Rounders song comes on my Spotify playlist and I’m away! Here’s me latest bounty. And if you haven’t listened to the Harry Smith Anthology do yerself a Molly.
Cheers
The Holy Modal Rounders: Bird Song, Low Down Dog, Alligator Man, The Cuckoo, Flop Eared Mule, Fishing Blues, Shoot That Turkey Buzzard, If You Want to Be a Bird/Wild Blue Yonder, Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake
Harry Smith Anthology of Folk Music: Old Dog Blue (Jim Jackson, a blues and hokum singer), I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground (Bascom Lamar Lunsford), Mississippi Boweavil Blues (Charlie Patton), Rabbit Foot Blues (Blind Lemon Jefferson), The Lone Star Trail (Ken Maynard), My Name is John Johanna (Kelly Harrell)
Roger Miller: You Can’t Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd, I Love a Rodeo
Springsteen: Western Stars
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey “I won’t stay awake to hear those magic reindeer click”, in the lyrics.
“Come Fly With Me” – Frank Sinatra “You just say the words and we’ll beat the birds”, in the lyrics.
“The Night Owls” – Little River Band
“Night Owl” – Carly Simon
Addictive theme – definitely.
Gerry Rafferty of ‘Baker Street’ fame had an album & song called:
‘Night Owl’
& it’s quite a nice song & peaked at 64 on the Aussie charts.
Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens. “Blackbird has spoken like the first bird” in the lyrics.
Let’s give it a go, Almanackers, for the double century. There’s still a long way to go but with a TEAM effort, together everyone achieves more.
The Kookaburra nursery rhyme song and the Roof Seal TV commercial jingle.
Baroness – A Horse Called Golgotha.
The Magilla Gorilla TV show theme song.
Hi Frank P – welcome aboard! It’s a fun ride! The vast majority of your song choices are new to the overall list. (For an example of a song that wasn’t, ‘Ben’ was mentioned by me earlier.) Big thanks,regardless, for your wonderful contribution!
“Talk to the Animals” – Rex Harrison, from the Dr Dolittle film.
Thanks, Rick, for your latest lot – much fine stuff to listen to and appreciate there. I trust you on the songs you mention that I don’t know, too (and broaden my horizons in the process.).. I try to listen to everything contributors put forward. Cheers!
The Wurzels had quite a few songs about animals – here are a few from my Wurzels vinyl album.
I am a Cider Drinker.
Black Bird.
Combine Harvester
Country House
Pheasant Pluckers Son
“The Animal Song (1999)” – Savage Garden. The children’s nursery rhyme songs “Little Bo Beep has lost her Sheep” and I saw a children’s song on You Tube for “This Little Piggy went to market”.
Thanks to Anon, Karl and Fisho for your additional material. (And to Anon for your exhortation to Almanac readers.)
Greg A – thanks for ‘A Horse Called Golgotha’, a full-on contribution, indeed.
And so it came to pass that between Donovan’s 1967 ‘Sunshine Superman’ & 1968 ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man’ (both fine albums & songs), Donovan released an album titled ‘For Little Ones’.
There are 3 excellent ‘animal’ songs on that album and maybe the first time these animals have appeared on this vast vast list:
The Tinker And The Crab
The Magpie
Starfish-On-The-Toast (one of my personal favourites)
Ta, Karl – songs for children seem a logical location for content connected to animals. Good one!
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
Thanks, Tony. Classic stuff!
“When Doves Cry” – Prince
“Josie and the Pussycats” TV theme song
“The Ugly Duckling” song – Danny Kaye
“At Seventeen” – Janis Ian (“to ugly duckling girls like me”) in the lyrics
“The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis (“change a hawk to a little white dove”) in the lyrics.
Thank you yet again, Anon!
My Prayer – The Platters
The Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte / Stan Freberg.
The Rock Island Line – Stan Freberg.
Cheers, Fisho.
And, while I think of it, there’s a song by that fabulous Geelong band Magic Dirt called ‘Rabbit with Fangs’.
Hi. Missed the mark on Ben. However on a rodent theme Muskrat By Everleys and Muskrat love by Captain and Tennile.
Richard Thompson Angels took my racehorse away.
Swing on a star by Bing.
Johnny Hortons Battle of New Orleans The gator lost his mind. So many contributions hoping the above squeeze in. My fave was by The Cramps
Bye for now.
…and 11 days later the theme still has legs…….
Frank mentions Muskrat Love By C&T (1976), but I much prefer the earlier cover by America (1973)
…and a quick scan of the songs (so far) suggests a a surprising omission (& a new animal to add to the list):
Chameleon by CCR (top notch song) off the 1970 Pendulum album
The Huckleberry Hound TV theme song, with Huckleberry Hound in the lyrics. Of course, the title of this article Nothin’ but a Hound Dog gave me the idea..
We are pushing 140 comments now, so 150 is now within reach. Let’s take it one comment at a time. We still have specialist batsmen at the crease, who know their music. Our target is 200 relevant comments but if we don’t get there, it’s still been a very good innings. If we can get to 200 comments, this article will be included in the Footy Almanac Hall of Fame. Carn The Mighty Almanackers!
I have been away from the website for a few days and thought after all this time that I missed my chance to add to the list. However, unless I missed it in the hundreds of entries, no one has mentioned one of the greatest of all (instrumental) songs about an animal (bird). Albatross by (the original) Fleetwood Mac, featuring the guitar of the late great Peter Green. This is surely one of the most evocative guitar pieces of all time.
Thanks, Frank P – interesting bunch of songs you have there. Particularly good ‘animal’ pick-up in relation to ‘Battle of New Orleans’- fine close reading of the lyrics!
Good stuff, Karl – always interesting to read comments about alternative versions of selected songs.
Cheers, Anon – thank you for the enthusiastic contribution.
Thank you, Dave N. As far as I can see, ‘Albatross’ by Fleetwood Mac is a new one to this list – as is ‘Wings of an Eagle’ by Russell Morris, unless I missed something..
Spotify provides suggestions and yesterday it suggested the latest David Knopfler album called Crow Gifts, and yes it has a song of that name on the album. Musing on that I remembered the Dire Straits song, Lions.
We watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid the other night and one of the songs was Burl Ives’ cover of Sweet Betsy from Pike. What a film, and great song.
From probably his best album, Sturgill Simpson, Turtles all the Way Down.
Florence and the Machine, Ship to Wreck needs no explanation. What a voice!
If yer not familiar with Sierra Ferrell then do yerself the proverbial. She’s the real deal. Along with a half a dozen or more youngish country/americana artists, the genre is in good hands. Fox Hunt is her latest (I think) release.
Oh and Fisho, the Stan Freberg’s parody of Rock Island Line is a great call. For younger players, versions by Lead Belly, Odetta, Johnny Cash and all the way through to Joe Henry and Billy Bragg have kept this fantastic song alive almost 100 years.
Great further input, Rick. I’ll definitely check out some Sierra (what an interesting name!) Ferrell, too.
A few more late entries
Slim Dusty – The Pub with no Beer (There’s a dog on the veranda, for his master he waits)
Willie Nelson – The Red Headed Stranger (You can’t hang a man for killing a woman who’s trying to steal his horse)
Michael Murphy – Wildfire
Frankie Laine – Cry of the Wild Goose
The Kinks – Phenomenal Cat
Thank you for these, Dave – as we near the 150!
Hi KD
I’ve been holding this song back until the dust settled in the comments section.
This will be my final contribution to the animal theme as it’s pretty close to home:
Like Butterflies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON56Fy0rrDc&list=OLAK5uy_mlnArh8U95D761VXs1JcytSlJhG4dwOpg&index=9
And still more. Now I’m thinking about Indigenous bands and singers. Here is, barely the start of many songs in we followed this thread.
Roger Knox: Blue Gums Calling Me Home, Koala Bear, Blackman’s Stories
King Stingray: Camp Dog, Hey Wanhaka
Lion in the winter: James Reyne
Runaway horses: Belinda Carlisle
Everybody’s got something to hide except me and my monkey: The Beatles
Hi Karl. Just had a listen – really like your song. Thank you.
Thanks Rick and Liam.
Liam – for me, the Beatles ‘Monkey’ song contains some of McCartney’s best ever bass work – and that’s a big call, I know.
(And there we have our 150, Almanackers!)
“Run, Rabbit Run!” – Flanagan and Allen
“April Sun in Cuba” – Dragon (“Snake eyes on the Paradise” and “Birds in the winter sky”) in the lyrics.
Thanks, Anon – and you’ve reminded me of the fun song by ‘Rockney’ duo Chas and Dave called ‘Rabbit!
Thanks for listening to my song KD….and more significantly, congratulations on 150no!
The stats show that you started very strong (Fraser-McGurk style); then steadied, despite wearying somewhat
First 50 – I day
Second 50 – 6 days
Third 50 – 6 days
Yep, Moondance – we came out all guns blazing, then played it steadily; as it turned out, the side needed us, and we were in for the long haul!
So that this Songs Concerning Animals” article doesn’t get dismissed for run out (especially with the more recent Songs Containing Cowbell), “My Favourite Things” – Julie Andrews, has “Raindrops on roses and whispers on kittens, “When the dog bites” and “When the bee stings” in the lyrics.
There might currently be a tailender in myself at the crease but maybe some of the music specialists and all rounders may make a comeback to this article after retiring exhausted to go to the Songs Containing Cowbell.
I’ve managed to keep the strike after pinching a single from the last ball of the previous over (comment).
“Rat Trap” – The Boomtown Rats
Many thanks, Anon, for keeping this long innings going!
Oh, and I just thought of Ted Nugent’s ‘Cat Scratch Fever’, a tune from my teenage days.
I’ve been waiting a few days because I didn’t want to hog the strike (pardon the pun), but I had to mention the “Top Cat TV theme song”. I hadn’t brought that up before, only “Felix The Cat” and “The Catanooga Cats”, TV theme songs.
Great to see the 160 now brought up. The team is back on song.
Thanks, Anon. Good stuff!
Unsurprisingly, cats are very big in this animal theme.
“You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth” – Meatloaf. The second line of the lyrics is “Would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?”
Of course – thanks, Anon!
“Joy To The World” – Three Dog Night. In the lyrics, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” and “Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea”.
Good one, Anon…this theme continues!
Hey KD – yes the theme continues
Way back in 1950, Merv Shiner recorded the first ever version of ‘Peter Cottontail’.
The recording is available on You Tube and well worth a listen.
I came across Merv and his contribution to this theme recently when I discovered he broke the mould of ‘musician dying before their time’. Merv passed in October 2023 at the ripe age of 102!
Thanks, Karl – good info!
“Two Strong Hearts”, by Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham. In the lyrics, “We stick together like the honey and the bee”. I was reminded of this same lyric when I used it yesterday for the songs concerning food. Funnily enough, I used another lyric in this song, “Reaching out forever like the river to the sea”, just in the last few weeks for songs concerning rivers. It’s unusual to have one song that’s eligible for 3 different music themes.
Of course, my posting on March1, 2024, for “Joy to the World”, the lyric, “Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea”, was also used yesterday by myself for songs concerning food.
Thanks for this, Anon – you’re so right that (many) songs connect to a range of themes.
“Sailing”, by Rod Stewart (“Like a bird ‘cross the sky”)
“American Pie”, by Don McLean (lyrics, “The birds flew off with a fallout shelter”)
Thanks for these latest two, Anon. Great to see we’re still going with this theme.
“Like a Rolling Stone”, by Bob Dylan (“You used to ride on chrome horse with your diplomat, Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat.”)
Thank you, Anon. Who would’ve immediately thought of a ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ in terms of the animal theme – not me, anyway!
Ahem…..31 Jan 2024 4.15pm….to quote me:
‘Like A Rolling Stone – who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat’
It’s ok – Bob always deserves a second listen.
Ah, fair enough, Karl – I take your point … but you didn’t mention the horse in your earlier response! (And the song still doesn’t make me think immediately of the animal theme, even if it does mention animals.)
“Mr Bojangles”, by Nitty Griity Dirt Band (In the lyrics, “His dog and him” and “His dog up and died”.)
Many thanks, A, for your latest choice.
Hey KD – seems like ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ could be the song about anything & everything in your latest series of posts – like the ‘Unifying Song Theory’!
Clothes: ‘dressed so fine’/’Napoleon in rags’
Food: ‘scrounging for your next meal’
Animals: well covered by Anon & I.
Jewelry: ‘diamond ring’
Houses: ‘no direction home’
As long as your next theme isn’t about ‘bums, tramps, circus performers, royalty, different forms of rocks, the education system, facial features, invisibility or drinking’ we should be able to avoid the song for a while. Have a great long long weekend!
Interesting, Karl. You’re so right about the multi-thematic nature of ‘Like A Rolling Stone’ – the same thing could be said about quite a few other songs, too.
And we have a new theme piece to be posted tomorrow – all will be revealed then!
“My Favourite Things”, by Julie Andrews (“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”, “Green-coloured ponies and crisp apple strudels”, “Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings” and “When the dog bites, when the bee stings”)
Thanks, Anon, for your choice from the musical theatre and film realm.
“English Country Garden”, by Rolf Harris. (These many types of animals mentioned in the lyrics such as fireflies, moths, gnats, bees, spiders, butterflies and snakes)
“Monster Mash”, by Bobby Pickett (“Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds”).
Thanks, Anon, for your latest material. ‘English Country Gardens’, incidentally, is a song which can be traced back a couple of centuries – there were many versions of it.
“Devil Woman”, by Cliff Richard (“Since the day I saw the cat at my door” and “Same cat with them evil eyes”)
Thanks, Anon – one of Cliff’s better songs, in my opinion.
“Maneater”, by Daryl Hall & John Oates (“The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar”).
Another good one, Anon – and wow, we’re getting close to two hundred here!
“You’re Movin Out Today”, by Carole Bayer Sager (“Your Spanish flies away”), (“Your mangy cat away”) and (“Pack up your rubber duck”.)
Thanks for this multi-themed song, Anon. It certainly covers many bases in its content.
“The Inch Worm”, by Danny Kaye
Thanks, Anon.
Hey KD – question: is an abominable snowman ‘human’ or ‘animal’?
I fell upon Hank Shizzoe (a Swiss roots-rock singer/songwriter) and have been checking him out – sounds like he could be worth an investment of my time & ears.
He has a song called ‘The Abominable Snowman’ on his ‘This Place Belongs To The Birds’ album.
Anyway, after 193 posts on this animal theme, I thought that I’d add to the menagerie.
‘The Abominable Snowman/he left a puddle on the floor
He’s a’sitting too close to the fireplace/he’ll be back for more’
Hi Karl – let’s just say the AS is a mythical beast – and therefore, loosely, qualifies.
Thanks for this interesting addition to the theme.
“Edge of Seventeen”, by Stevie Nicks (‘Just like the white-winged dove sings a song”)
Ta, Anon!
“Band on the Run”, by Paul McCartney and Wings (“For the rabbits on the run”)
“Mull of Kintyre”, by Wings (“Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen”)
“Wildfire”, by Michael Martin Murphy (“And the pony she named Wildfire”) and (“Been a hoot-owl howling outside my window now”).
Congratulations to the Almanac Music Readers for reaching a double century (200) for the first time in Almanac Music history!
Wonderful, Anon! Thank you for your integral role in getting us to our double ton!
“Walk Like an Egyptian”, by The Bangles “Gold crocodiles (oh way-oh)”
Good close scrutiny of the lyrics there, Anon. Thank you!
“I’m Too Sexy”(1991), by Right Said Fred (“I’m too sexy for my cat, poor pussy, poor pussy cat.”)
Thank you, A , for ‘I’m Too Sexy’.
“Poison Ivy”, by The Coasters (“You’ll be scratching like a hound.”)
Another good pickup, Anon. Thanks.
“Rhiannon”, by Fleetwood Mac (“Takes to the sky like a bird in flight”), (“She is like a cat in the dark”), (“She rules her life like a fine skylark”) and (“She rules her life like a bird in flight.”)
Thanks, Anon – ‘Rhiannon’ is a fine, highly fitting song here.
“My Girl”, by The Temptations (“I’ve got so much honey, the bees envy me. I’ve got a sweeter song, than the birds in the trees.”)
Thank you, Anon, for adding this fine song.
“Big Yellow Taxi”, by Joni Mitchell (“Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees.”)
“Riders On The Storm”, by The Doors (“Like a dog without a bone”)
Greg Champion sung a parody song “My Son Barracks for the Tigers”, to the tune of “Delilah”, by Tom Jones.
Certainly some variety in your latest three, Anon! Many thanks!
“Galveston”, by Glen Campbell (“Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun”)
Great song, ‘Galveston’ – thanks, Anon.
“Nobody Likes Me (Think I’ll Go Out Eat Worms”), by ABC Kids (“Itsy Bitsy Fuzzy Wuzzy Worms”)
“Crazy Little Thing Calked Love”, by Queen (“Shakes all over like a jellyfish”)
Firstly, I should have typed in my previous comment, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, by Queen.
“Tenterfield Saddler”, by Peter Allen (“If you had questions about sheep or flowers or dogs”), (“Think I can see kangaroo up ahead”), (“Fly away cockatoo”) and (“Down on the ground emu up ahead”)
“Africa”, by Toto (“The wild dogs cry out in the night.”)
Thanks, A, for your most recent choices.
“Stairway to Heaven”, by Led Zeppelin (“In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings.”)
Yep – another excellent one, Anon. Thank you.
“Born in the U.S.A.”, by Bruce Springsteen (“End up like a dog that’s been beat too much”)
Thanks for the iconic Springsteen number, Anon.
“True Blue”, by John Williamson (“Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo”)
“Don’t Pay the Ferryman”, by Chris de Burgh (“He heard a wild dog howl.”)
Cheers, Anon – thanks for your latest two.
That Noise – Anthony Newley (feeling full of fun, I threw the alarm clock at the cat)
Thanks, Fisho – I’ll need to check that one out.
3 months & 230 comments since launching this topic how could we possibly leave out:
Everyone’s beneath the trees feeding pigeons on a limb
But when Quinn the Eskimo gets here
All the pigeons gonna run to him
“Holy Grail”, by Hunters & Collectors (“But we were dying like flies”) and (“And those big black birds”)
Thanks, Karl and Anon – sometimes the material that is left out for a long time can be surprising,
“King Of The Road”, by Roger Miller (“No phone, no pool, no pets”)
Yep, tick – another good one. Thank you, Anon.
Happy weekend KD.
I thought we might revisit this ‘animal’ theme and do a stroll through the Blood On The Tracks album….
He hears the ticking of the clocks/and walks along with a parrot that talks
One day you’ll be in the ditch, flies buzzing around your eyes/Blood on your saddle
Bird on the horizon, sittin’ on a fence/He’s singing his song for me at his own expense
Little rooster crowin’, there must be something on his mind
A change in weather is known to be extreme/But what’s the sense of changing horses in midstream
Flowers on the hillside bloomin’ crazy/Crickets talkin’ back and forth in rhyme
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn/’Come in’ she said ‘I’ll give you shelter from the storm’
Little red wagon, little red bike/I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like
Happy weekend to you, too, Karl.
Many thanks for this Dylan material.
Hi KD
I thought I might add 1 to the comments to make it an even 238!
Actually, I was doing some BD research and came across a very interesting ‘animal’ related song that I believe hasn’t been mentioned yet and I thought was worthy of inclusion.
Nina Simone (1974) – Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter.
Thank you, Karl – there’s life in the ol’ ‘animal’ theme yet!
The Cat Came Back – Tex Morton
Thanks, Fisho, for your Morton song.
Here’s 2 more Tex Morton’s songs. I have one of his albums somewhere. I have always been a fan
Mandrake
The Goondiwindi Grey
Thanks, Fisho, for these two – I recall ‘The Goondiwindi Grey’ being mentioned earlier in this thread, but multiple mentions of the same song are almost inevitable when a thread gets very long.
There is another song on my Tex Morton album which has been sung by many others. Has it already been mentioned?
Charming Billy (Can she bake a cherry pie, my Billy Boy, my Billy Boy my Charming Billy? She can bake a cherry pie as quick as a cat can wink it’s eye, she’s a young thing that cannot leave her mother).
Hi Fisho – thanks for ‘Charming Billy’; as far as I can see, it hasn’t been mentioned before you added it to our list.
Have I already mentioned She Wears Red Feathers from Guy Mitchell?
(Whilst 6 baboons got out bassoons and played Here Comes the Bride)
Humble apologies Kevin, I find I’ve already mentioned she Wears Red Feathers, anyway , here’s a couple more I don’t think they’ve already been mentioned.
Horsey, Keep Your Tail Up – Spike Jones and the City Slickers
Ricochet – Teresa Brewer (If you’re careless with your kisses, find another turtle dove).
Thank you for your latest choices, Fisho.
I associate Teresa Brewer (‘The Hula Hoop Song’) with my parents’ record collection.
Boom Boom Baby – Crash Craddock (Love to see her do the chicken bop, shakes all over from the bottom to the top.
Speaking of horse racing and Spike Jones, I love his piece (I forget what it’s called) about where Beedlebomb is coming last all the way through, but eventually wins.
“Butterfly”, by Delta Goodrem. It’s from her debut album “Innocent Eyes”.
Congratulations to the Almanac Music Readers for reaching the milestone of 250! It’s a great achievement and a brilliant team effort from everyone involved.
Thanks, Fisho and Anon, for your latest input.
Yes, Fisho, I know the Beedlebomb number, too, but off the top of my head I can’t tell you its title.
Hi Kevin, the Beedlebomb bit is to the tune of the William Tell Overture
Yes, Fisho, I just checked online – and discovered that the horse’s name is actually spelt Beetlebaum.