SHOTGUN BOOGIE
(Tennessee Ernie Ford)

Tennessee Ernie Ford - 1951
Cab Calloway - 1951
The Maddox Brothers & Rose - 1953
Pat Boone - 1957

Also recorded by: Rosemary Clooney; Cal Smith;
Cootie Williams; Sleepy LaBeef; Hank Thompson;
Johnny Horton; Hawkshaw Hawkins; Don Walser.


There it stands in the corner with the barrel so straight
I looked out the window and over the gate
The big, fat rabbits are a-jumpin' in the grass
Wait'll they hear my old shotgun blast
Shotgun Boogie, I done saw your tracks 
Look out Mr. Rabbit when I cock my hammer back

Well, over on the ridge is a scaly bark
Hick'ry nuts so big you can see 'em in the dark
The big fat squirrels they scratch and they bite
I'll be on that ridge before daylight
Shotgun Boogie, all I need is one shot
Look out bushy tail, tonight you'll be in the pot

Well, I met a pretty gal, she was tall and thin
I asked her what she had, she said: "A Fox Four-Ten"
I looked her up and down and said: "Boy, this is love"
So we headed for the brush to shoot a big fat dove
Shotgun Boogie, boy the feathers flew
Look out Mister Dove when she draws a bead on you

I sat down on a log, took her on my lap
She said, "Wait a minute, bub, you got to see my Pap
He's got a sixteen-gauge choked down like a rifle
He don't like a man that's a-gonna trifle" 
Shotgun Boogie, draws a bead so fine 
Look out big boy, he's loaded all the time

Well, I called on her Pap like a gentleman oughta
He said: "No brush hunter's gonna get my daughter"
He cocked back the hammer right on the spot
When the gun went off, I outran the shot
Shotgun Boogie, I wanted wedding bells
I'll be back little gal, when your pappy runs out of shells