R. Buckminster Fuller

Old Blue

This Byrds song from the album Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde, released after the seminal country-rock progenitor Sweetheart of the Rodeo, is a psychedelic rock-tinged country song that jubilantly celebrates the life and death of (presumably Roger McGuinn's) old dog, "Blue".

My childhood dog, a basset hound named Opie, died this year. He was very old, and in a lot of pain.

I've been listening to this on repeat for an hour. Not only is it simply a great song, but in this video you can see why Roger McGuinn has been called a workaholic by various other musicians. (That means he's addicted to workohol). Look at his eyes when he's singing harmony around minute 1:20--he's completely locked in, and he looks so happy.

"Well, I had an old dog and his name was Blue
Yes, I had an old dog and his name was Blue
Well, I had an old dog and his name was Blue
Bet ya five dollars he's a good dog too

Old Blue chased a possum up a holler limb
Blue chased a possum up a holler limb
Blue chased a possum up a holler limb
The possum growled, Blue whined at him

Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you
Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you

When old Blue died, he died so hard
He shook the ground in my back yard
We lowered him down with a golden chain
And every link we called his name

Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you
Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you

My old Blue was a good old hound
You could hear him hollering miles around
When I get to Heaven first thing I'll do
Is grab my horn and call for Blue

Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you
Bye bye, Blue
You good dog, you"