The Legend of “Griz,(the huntin dog)”
J. Michael Tracy male vocal/tone poem/bluegrass/uptempo
An ugly mutt as there ever was, but he had a heart of gold
I named him “Griz, the huntin dog” when he was 3 days old
Black as coal and dumb as hell, but the dog had nerves of steel
He loved to hunt and loved to fight, and he never did learn to heel
He’d give his all when I’d let him loose, huntin birds was his pride and joy
He loved the woods and he loved to run, but he mostly loved my boy
They grew up together, till they was 8 years old
They’d wrassle in the summer, fetch snowballs in the cold
One day Matt was in the woods, old Griz was in his pen
And I was gone away to work while Ma was sleepin in
The boy heard a rustle in the brush and looked up into the eyes
Of a slobberin, rabid coyote, with killin on his mind
Matthew screamed, the coyote sprang and Grizzly cleared the wall
The coyote nearly had the boy, his worst mistake of all
Griz met the beast in the air, his boy was on the ground
The battle raged forever, their blood was all around
When it was through that old coyote was dead there was no doubt
Griz dragged his way back to the boy, his life was spillin out
He put his head on Matthew’s lap and looked into his eyes
Griz loved that boy more than life, Matt held him while he died
(chorus)
So how do you thank a friend who’s not around
Some say that he was just a dog but I will always stand my ground
He’ll never know the sacrifice he made for us that day
The truest friend there ever was, he wanted it that way
Of “Old Griz, the huntin dog,” his legend’s here to stay
(verse)
The debt that I owe to that old dog will always be too great
He gave his life to save my boy and now it’s just too late
There’ll never be another that could take his place you see
That dog was a true hero, and that he’ll always be
(chorus)