Walking the Dogby Rufus Thomas
-
Baby's back, dressed in black
Silver buttons all down her back
High, low, tipsy toe
She broke a needle and she can't sew
Walkin' the dog
Just walkin' the dog
If you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk te dog
Asked a fellow for fifteen cents
See the fellow he jumped the fence
Jumped so high he touched the sky
Never got back till the fourth of July
Walkin' the dog
Just walkin' the dog
If you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog
Come on now, come on, come on
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Tell me, how does your garden grow?
You got silver bells and you got cockleshells
Pretty maids all in a row
Walking the dog
Just a walkin' the dog
If you don't know how to do it
Show you how to walk the dog
Come on now, come on, come on
Oh oh, just a, just a, just a walkin'
Just a, just a, just a walkin'
Just a, just a, just a walkin'
Oh yeah, if you don't know how to do it
I'll show you how to walk the dog, oh
Just a, just a, just a, just a, just a, just a walkin'
Just a, just a, just a, just a, just a, just a walkin', oh Writer/s: Rufus Thomas
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
Comments: 10
- Hans from NetherlandsThe lyrics except the refrain are based on the clapping game ‘Mary Mack’. The refrain most likely has a hidden sexual message, since ‘walking the dog’ can mean male masturbation in slang. The similarities between a clapping game and male masturbation are the rhythmic movements of the hands…
- John from NycThe Sonics did a great, raucous cover of this song on their 1965 debut album Here Are The Sonics.
- Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 12th 1972, Rufus Thomas performed "Do the Funky Penguin* - Part One" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
At the time the song was at #45 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; the very next day on February 13th it would peak at #44 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 10 weeks...
It reached #11 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
Between 1963 and 1972 he, as a solo artist, had nine* Top 100 records; one made the Top 10, "Walking the Dog", it peaked at #10 {for 2 weeks}on December 1st, 1963...
He charted two more times on the Top 100 in duets with his daughter, Carla...
Mr. Thomas passed away on December 15th, 2001 at the age of 84...
* In 1970 he charted with another 'funky' record; "Do the Funky Chicken - Part One" reached #28 on the Top 100. - Clarity from OnthebeachThis song was covered by Randy California in '72 for his 'Kapt. Kopter' album. It wasn't released on the original vinyl but his version is offered as a bonus track on the current CD issue. In '76 Spirit included it on their 'Spirit of '76' LP.
- Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 29th 1963, "Walking the Dog" by Rufus Thomas entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #80; and on December 1st, 1963 it peaked at #10 {for 2 weeks} and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #5 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
Between 1963 and 1972 he had nine Top 100 records; his next biggest hit was "(Do the) Push and Pull", it peaked at #25 {for 1 week} on February 21st, 1971...
R.I.P. Rufus Thomas, Jr. {1917 - 2001}. - Joe from Eldon, MoThe Stones version was not that good compared to the rest.
- Robin from Bolton, United KingdomI have the Rufus Thomas version at two speeds! On the History of R&B Vol VI (Atlantic) vinyl, it's pitched higher and doesn't last as long as the version on Atlantic Gold - 100 Soul Classics CD. Anyone know which is the right one?
- Homer from Springfield, KyAerosmith's version was better in my opinion
- Steve from Hermitage, TnI think Aerosmith covered this song on one of their early albums. I like their version; haven't heard the Stones'.
- Billie from Stuttgart, GermanyLyrics, music, and original recording were by Rufus Thomas in 1963. The song made the U.S. Top Ten and was included in his album of the same title on Stax records. Rufus was born and died in Mississippi and Tennesee, respectively. The Rolling Stones covered it. So did the Grateful Dead in 1966 and then a couple of times in 1970. They continued to play it with revisions briefly in 1984/1985. A fun and lively interpretation of this song was performed by John Warren and his band in 1999. They played this song live at The Palms in Davis, California less than one month before passing away in from pancreatic cancer.
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