Songs to Know #12: Old Dan Tucker
Old Dan Tucker
Old Dan Tucker came to town
Riding on a billy goat, leading a hound
The hound gave a yelp, the goat gave a jump
And threw old Dan a straddle of a stump
Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
He's too late to get his supper
Supper's over, breakfast cooking
Old Dan Tucker stands there looking
When at night he went to bed
He pulled a night cap over his head
He tried to sleep but it wasn't any use
His legs hung out for the chickens to roost
Old Dan Tucker was a mighty man
He washed his face in a frying pan
He combed his hair with a wagon wheel
And had a toothache in his heel
Dan wore his shirttails outside his coat
He buttoned his britches up around his throat
His nose stuck out, his eyes stuck in
His beard grew out all over his chin
Old Dan Tucker went to the mill
to get some meal to put in the swill
The miller swore by the point of his knife
he'd never seen such a man in his life
Old Dan Tucker the other day
Took a ride in a one-horse sleigh
Horse ran away, sleigh upset
And I haven't seen anything of Daniel yet
As Dan came down the new cut road
He met Brer Terrapin and Brer Toad
And every time Brer Toad would sing
Brer Terrapin cut the pigeon wing
Old Dan Tucker climbed a tree
Climbed so high he couldn't see
Stuck his head in a woodpecker's hole
Couldn't get out to save his soul
I went to town the other night
To hear the noise and see the fight
All the people were jumping round
Crying Old Dan Tucker's come to town
Old Dan Tucker was a fine old soul
Lived nine days in a tater hole
Goblin got him by the snout
He hollered for his friends to help him out
Old Dan Tucker went out shooting
There he spied a wild hog rooting
Hog bristled up and set Dan shaking
That was all that saved his bacon
Old Dan began in early life
to play the banjo and the fife
He played the boys and girls to sleep
And then into his bunk he'd creep
Old Dan Tucker's still in town
Swinging the ladies all around
First to the East and then to the West
Then to the one that he loves best