Salty Dog
Jack Elliott Lyrics
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Finger on the trigger and eye on the hog
Honey, let me be your salty dog
Salty dog, salty dog
I don't wanna be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog
A great big hole in the bottom of my shoes
Honey, let me be your salty dog
Salty dog, salty dog
I don't wanna be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog
Pulled the trigger and the gun went blam!
I shot my gal in Alabam
Honey, let me be you salty dog
Salty dog, salty dog
No, I don't wanna be your man at all
I just wanna be your salty dog
Salty dog, salty dog
I don't wanna be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog
God made a woman and he made her might fine
The lips around her mouth are sweeter than honey
Honey, let me be your salty dog
Salty dog, salty dog
I don't wanna be your man at all
Honey, let me be your salty dog
The lyrics to Jack Elliott's song "Salty Dog" depict a man who is content with living a simple, carefree life. The first stanza finds him in the wildwood, sitting on a log with his finger on the trigger and his eye on the hog. He implores his sweetheart to let him be her "salty dog," a slang term for a rough and rugged man who is happy to live a simple life with no ties or commitments. In the second stanza, the singer finds himself standing on the corner shouting the blues with a hole in his shoe, but he remains unfazed. He again asks his sweetheart to let him be her salty dog.
The third stanza has a darker turn when the singer pulls the trigger and accidentally kills his gal in Alabam. The lyrics take a dark and tragic turn, but the refrain remains the same: "Honey, let me be your salty dog." The final stanza is a celebration of the beauty of womanhood. The singer acknowledges that God made a woman fine and sweet, with lips that are sweeter than honey. Again, he reiterates that he doesn't want to be a man, he just wants to be a salty dog and live a simple, carefree life.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in the wildwood sittin' on a log
I am sitting in a forest on a log.
Finger on the trigger and eye on the hog
I have my finger on the trigger, ready to shoot a hog.
Honey, let me be your salty dog
My dear, let me be your loyal companion.
Salty dog, salty dog
I want to be known as salty dog.
I don't wanna be your man at all
I don't want to be your lover or partner.
Standin' on the corner shouting the blues
I am standing on the street corner, singing the blues.
A great big hole in the bottom of my shoes
My shoes have a huge hole in them.
Pulled the trigger and the gun went blam!
I pulled the trigger and the gun made a loud noise.
I shot my gal in Alabam
I accidentally shot my girlfriend in Alabama.
No, I don't wanna be your man at all
Again--I have no interest in being your man or lover.
I just wanna be your salty dog
I only want to be your faithful pet and companion.
God made a woman and he made her might fine
The Lord created women to be exquisite beings.
The lips around her mouth are sweeter than honey
Her lips are delectable and sweet.
Honey, let me be your salty dog
Once again, I'm asking you to let me be your loyal companion.
Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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