Salty Dog Blues

"Salty Dog Blues" is an early 1900sfolk song. It is in the public domain. It has been recorded by blues, jazz, country music, bluegrass groups and other styles. The oldest recordings of the song credit Papa Charlie Jackson, who adapted the song directly from the African-American traditional for Paramount and for Broadway in 1924. According to Jas Obrecht, "Old-time New Orleans musicians from Buddy Bolden’s era recalled hearing far filthier versions of 'Salty Dog Blues' long before Papa Charlie’s recording." Similar versions were recorded by Mississippi John Hurt and Lead Belly.

The Morris Brothers version of the lyrics of the chorus of the song go: Let me be your Salty Dog / Or I won't be your man at all / Honey let me be your salty dog. According to Richard Matteson:

The Morris chord progression for Salty Dog was also used by other performers, leaving the Morris version as an arrangement at best. During the 1920s and 30s many country performers claimed they wrote any song that they copyrighted. This was a customary practice because the royalties meant big money in some cases.

The song has been recorded by Papa Charlie Jackson (1924), Clara Smith (1926), Freddie Keppard’s Jazz Cardinals (1926), the McGee Brothers (1927), The Allen Brothers (1927, 1930, 1934), Kokomo Arnold (1937), the Morris Brothers (1938, 1945), Flatt and Scruggs (1950),Blind Willie McTell (1956), Little Brother Montgomery (1962), Mississippi John Hurt (1963), The Brotherhood (Don Partridge & Pat Keene) (1966), Skip Battin (1973), and Johnny Cash (2003). Others who have performed or recorded the song include Jelly Roll Morton, Lead Belly, Bo Carter, Reverend Gary Davis, Ricky Nelson, the Kingston Trio, Roger McGuinn, Hot Tuna, Leon Redbone, John Butz, Cat Power, and Greensky Bluegrass.

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