Lyr Req: Old Rover (from Hank Snow)

Subject: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: GUEST,Kim
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 01:46 PM

I have been searching for an old song for my father-in-law. He is 85 now and remembers singing this song when he was very young. This is what he can remember: "Two little boys and an old family dog, by the banks of the stream stood one day. The boys had decided old Rover must die, a nuisance well out of the way." He can't remember the rest. He does remember that Old Rover has to jump into the lake to save one of the little boys. If anyone remembers this song, I would love to hear from you. I have searched all over the internet and can't find it anywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: GUEST,Kim
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 02:29 PM

Oh my goodness, 2 "GUEST Kim"s!! Can't help with this song, but Hi anyway.

Kim

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD ROVER (Hank Snow)
From: kendall
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 03:28 PM

OLD ROVER As recorded by Hank Snow on "Songs of Tragedy" (1964)

Two little boys and an old family dog
By the banks of a stream sat one day.
The boys decided old Rover must die,
A nuisance well out of the way.
The poor old fellow stood close by their sides.
His fate he couldn't quite understand.
With a wag of his tail, and a half-sobbing wail,
He reached out and licked at their hands.

CHORUS: Remember, I'm your best friend, boys.
Oh, no one could love you so true.
Though you may beat me and bang me today,
Tomorrow I'll play games with you.
I know I am old and quite in the way,
But life to me still holds a charm.
Well, I've only one favor to ask of you, boys:
Let me spend my last days on the farm.

With a rope round his neck, they were ready to tie.
His pleading seemed of no avail.
Just then, one of the boys slipped and fell in the stream.
The other stood by deathly pale.
A loud cry for help and old Rover plunged in,
No sign of old age or delay,
And as he slowly swam back to the shore,
The waves dashing by in his face. CHORUS

[The following verse comes from a different source.]

One day the boys called, but their pal didn't come.
"Oh, where does he hide?" they did say.
They searched all around and finally found
His old lifeless form in the hay.
There were tears on their cheeks as they dug him a grave
And buried him there by the barn.
The boys now repent, but old Rover's content.
He had spent his last days on the farm. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: kendall
Date: 13 Sep 00 - 03:29 PM

I havn't been able to sing this since I lost my old Lab to cancer. It was hard enough just typing the words. Give your dad my best.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD ROVER
From: GUEST,LeonGrover
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 02:43 AM

MOM'S VERSION WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT

OLD ROVER

Two little boys and an old family dog
By the banks of a stream STOOD one day.
The boys HAD decided OLD Rover must die,
A nuisance well out of the way.
The poor old fellow stood close by their side.
His fate did not understand.
With a wag of his tail, and a half sobbing wail,
He reached out and licked at their hands.

CHORUS: I Am your VERY best friend, boys.
No one could love you so true.
ALthough you may WHIP ME AND beat me today,
Tomorrow I'll play games with you.
I KNOW THAT I'm old and quite in the way,
BUT Life to me still holds a charm.
I've only one favor to ask of you, boys:
Let me LIVE my last days on the farm.

a rope round his neck, they were ready to tie.
PLEADINGS WERE OF no avail.
WHEN one of the boys slipped and fell in the stream.
The other stood by deathly pale.
ONE loud cry for help and old Rover JUMPED in,
No signS of old age or deCay,
And as he swam to the shore WITH THE BOY,
The waves ROLLING BY SEEMED TO SAY. CHORUS

One day the boys called, but their pal didn't come.
"Oh, where does he hide?" they did say.
They searched all around and finally found
His old lifeless form in the hay.
There were tears on their cheeks as they dug him a grave
And buried him there by the barn.
The boys now repent, but old Rover's content.
He had spent his last days on the farm. CHORUS

My mother used to sing this song ofter when I was a kid on the farm. I could never get over getting a lump in my throat when she sang it. I think that this is pretty close. I don't remember ever hearing the last verse so I'm sure glad I found it here. Thanks LeonGrover

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: Genie
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 02:48 AM

Boy, and I thought "Old Shep" was a tear-jerker!   :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: GUEST,J C
Date: 19 Mar 06 - 04:26 AM

I prefer the one which goes to the tune of Four Leaf Clover and starts:
I've just run over a dog named Rover

Alan ? the surnam escapes me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 08:47 AM

Hank Snow recorded OLD ROVER. It's on the 12-CD collection "The Singing Ranger, Vol. 3" (Bear Family, 1994) and on "Songs of Tragedy," (RCA, 1964). It's called "traditional."

The Sons of the Pioneers also recorded a song called OLD ROVER, but it seems to be a different song, with a different story. Theirs was written by Tim Spencer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Family Dog Rover Song
From: kendall
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 01:15 PM

Hank left out the last verse as I recall.