This week we feature Old Dog Tray  written in 1853 by Stephen Foster, the oldest dog song I have been able to find.  I became aware of the song while writing the post on the Good Dog  album by Marie Burns.  

This song has been used in the movies at least twice. Once in the movie Old Dog Tray (1935) “While the music background is “Old Dog Tray,” the cartoon features a little pup who gets into some fantastic adventures and mishaps with soap bubble, and old farmer Alfalfa to go along. They sail off into the air on their bubbles until their bubbles burst.”

Also in the 1952 movie  about Stephen Foster  “I Dream of Jeanie”  “Starring Bill Shirley as Stephen Foster, Eileen Christy as Jeanie McDowell and a very charming and talented dog portraying Foster’s faithful companion.”

Old Dog Tray by Marie Burns from Good Dog album [MP3 sample]

Lyrics

Old Dog Tray

The morn of life is past,
And evening comes at last;
It brings me a dream of a once happy day,
Of merry forms I’ve seen
Upon the village green,
Sporting with my old dog Tray.

chorus:
Old dog Tray’s ever faithful,
Grief cannot drive him away,
He’s gentle, he is kind;
I’ll never, never find
A better friend than old dog Tray.

The forms I call’d my own
Have vanished one by one,
The lov’d ones, the dear ones have all passed away,
Their happy smiles have flown,
Their gentle voices gone;
I’ve nothing left but old dog Tray.

When thoughts recall the past
His eyes are on me cast;
I know that the feels what my breaking heart would say:
Although he cannot speak
I’ll vainly, vainly seek
A better friend than old dog Tray.

Every Friday, Mutt Tunes showcases songs with or about dogs. Email your suggestions.