PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY, THE
(Music: F W Bowers / Lyrics: Benjamin Hapgood Burt)


Frank Crumit - 1934
Johnny Bond - 1966
Jim Croce - 1975

Also recorded by: Sam Hinton; Rudy Vallee;
Harry Belafonte; Clinton Ford; Acker Bilk.



One evening in October
When I was about one-third sober
And was taking home a load with manly pride
My poor feet began to stutter
So I lay down in the gutter
And a pig came up and lay down by my side

Then we sang "It's All Fair Weather"
And "Good Fellows Get Together"
Till a lady passing by was heard to say
She says, "You can tell a man who boozes
By the company he chooses"
And the pig got up and slowly walked away

Yes, the pig got up and slowly walked away
Slowly walked away, slowly walked away
Yes, the pig got up and he turned and winked at me
As he slowly walked away

I also well remember
One evening in November
When I was creeping home at break of day
For in my exhilaration
I engaged in conversation
With a cab-horse, right on the corner of Broadway

I was filled up to the eyeballs
With a flock of gin and highballs
So I whispered to the cab-horse old and grey
I says, "It's these all-night homeward marches
That gave us both our fallen arches."
And the old horse laughed and slowly walked away

Yes, the old horse laughed and slowly walked away
Slowly walked away, he slowly walked away
And the old horse laughed and he turned and winked at me
As he slowly walked away
As he slowly walked away


(Contributed by Peter Akers - August 2008)


++++++++++


As recorded by JOHNNY BOND:


One evenin' in October
When I was five fifths sober
Takin'g home a load with manly pride
My poor feet began to stutter
So I lay down in the gutter
And a pig come up and lay down by my side

Then we sang it's all fair weather
When good fellers ger together
Till a lady passing by was heard to say
"You can tell a man who boozes
By the company he chooses"
So the pig got up and slowly walked away

Yes, the pig got up and slowly walked away
Slowly walked away
Slowly walked away
Yes, the pig got up and without a word to say
He looked at me and thought
That he would leave me where I lay

And that same old pig a lesson taught to me
And that was not to be a bigger pig than he
So I hopped next day on the water cart to stay
Since the pig got up and slowly walked away

I also well remember
One evenin' in November
When I was goin' home at break of day
For in my exhileration
I engaged in conversation
With a cab horse on the corner of Broadway

I was filled up to the eyeballs
With flocks of gin and highballs
So I whispered to the cab horse old and grey
"It's these all-night homeward marches
Gives us both our fallen arches"
And the cab horse laughed and slowly walked away

Yes, the old horse laughed and slowly walked away
Slowly walked away
Slowly walked away
Yes, the old horse laughed and without a word to say
He wagged his tail and hit the trail
That led him to the hay

And that same old horse I very often see
And when I'm sober he will always bow to me
Now at night I stay at the old YMCA
Since the old horse laughed and slowly walked away


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - August 2011)


++++++++++


ALTERNATE VERSES:


She said "What a lofely fella",
Poked the pig with her umbrella
Then she looked at me awhile and whispered
"Say, ay tank dis iss hees brudder"
At my side I felt a shudder
And the pig got up and slowly walked away



One morning Pat O'Reilly
Said to his missus, shyly
Tonight some friends of mine are dining here
Said his wife,who comes from Bantree
"There is nothing in the pantry"
And the family pig collapsed in mortal fear

Mrs.Pat said "What the dickens,
I can kill a pair of chickens,
Or would Pork and sage and onions be ok?"
"Are these friends some men I'm knowin'?"
Pat said "Isaac, Stein and Cohen"
And the pig got up and slowly walked away