Old Rattler

Doc Reese

as transcribed by Alan Lomax into his book "The Land Where The Blues Began"

Early on Sunday morning
Here, Rattler, here,
Captain called the dog sergeant,
Here, Rattler, here.

"Old Eatum, Old Beatum, old
Cheatum's done gone,
Here, Rattler, here,
And I'll you a marrow bone,
Here, Rattler, here."

"I don't want your marrow bone
Here, Rattler, here,
I want those trusties that are long gone,
Here, Rattler, here."

Just as soon as the chain set Rattler free,
He had his nose to the ground and his tail like a tree.

He found the trail of the trusties tree,
Just where they passed the live oak tree.

When he came to the river he leaped right in,
He was on the trail of the missing men.

To the other side the old Rattler went,
There he picked up the same old scent.

He ran so fast till he looked like a streak,
You should have seen that dog a-workin his feet.

Soon he begin to growl and moan,
A sign he was bringin that bacon home.

Old Cheatum had climbed up very high,
Thinkin old Rattler would pass him by.

Rattler circled the tree just twice,
Then he perched there like a well-trained fice.

Old Cheatum was another of Rattler's finds,
He had gotten tired and was left behind.

Then Rattler ran on with determined mind,
Left all of the others far behind.

The Texas Special was a-runnin downhill,
But Rattler pass it like it was standin hill.

He was on the trail of the man who had gone,
And he rode old Eatum right to his home.

He ran to the window and barked at the door,
Then he heard old Eatum cross the floor.

Rattler begun to yell and scream,
He wanted old Eatum, what I mean.

At last old Eatum heard the sergeant say,
«Come out, old Eatum, go back and stay.»

Old Eatum come out with his hands in the air,
He knew his run had got him nowhere.

Now old Beatum though he was travelin alone,
But Rattler soon showed him he was wrong.

Soon as he heard old Rattler's cry,
Old Beatum wished for wings to fly.

He kept on runnin with all his might,
When he looked back, Rattler was in sight.

Old Beatum wandered what he would do,
"If Rattler get to me, I know I'm through."

"Come here, sergent, and call off your dog,
I'll go to the farm and cut your logs."

Here, Rattler
Here, Rattler, here,
Rattler, here,
Here, Rattler, here.