Old Dan Tucker

Words & Music:

Daniel Decatur Emmett (1843)

 

This song is perfect for making up your own verses and, as a result, you can find many, many verses on the 'net.  It was a popular Gold Rush song and is still great for folk dancing.

 

D                                                        A7

Old Dan Tucker was a mighty man; he washed his face in a frying pan.

D                                                                A7     D

He combed his hair with a wagon wheel and he died of a toothache in his heel.

 

CHORUS:

D                   G                A7               D

Get out the way for Old Dan Tucker!  He's too late to get his supper.

Supper's over and breakfast's cookin'!  Old Dan Tucker just stands there a-lookin'.

 

Old Dan Tucker went to town, ridin' a mule and leadin' a hound.

The hound, he barked and the mule, he jumped and he threw Old Dan out over a stump.

 

CHORUS:

 

I came to town the other night, I heard the noise and saw the fight.

The watchman was a'runnin' around; cryin', "Old Dan Tucker's come to town!"

 

CHORUS:

 

Now, Old Dan, he went down to the mill to get some meal to put in the swill.

The miller swore by the point of his knife, he'd never seen such a man in his life.

 

CHORUS:

 

Now, Old Dan Tucker, he's a nice old man.  He used to ride our darby ram.

He sent him whizzing down the hill.  If he hadn't got up, he'd be lying there still.

 

CHORUS:

 

Old Dan begun in early life to play the banjo and the fife.

He'd play the children all to sleep and then into his bunk he'd creep.

 

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