Old Blue / Old Dog Blue

1st grade, folk song / traditional, Kindergarten, visuals

Version 1

Lyrics

(Folk song)

I had an old dog
And his name was Blue
And I’ll bet ya five dollars
He’s a good boy too.

Recorder Notes D, F#, G, A, B, C

Info

This version is a variation of Jim Jackson’s version (which was included in the Anthology of American Folk Music by Folkway Records in 1952.) Jim Jackson (1876–1933) was a folk song and blues singer and guitarist in the early 20th century. Interestingly, in 1985, this tune became a recurring theme in the play “Fences” where the central character had a dog named Blue and even claimed that his father was the original source of this tune! (source) (source)

Lyrics

(by Jim Jackson, Variation from the Hays Kodály Certification Program, as taught by Gabby Montoya-Stier)

I had a dog and his name was Blue,
I had a dog and his name was Blue,
I had a dog and his name was Blue,
Betcha five dollars he’s a good dog, too!
Oh Blue, you good dog, you!