I found him in the hay barn
Whimperin’ and small…
He was a sole survivor,
One puppy that was all…
His Mama died in labor,
He started life alone…
Shivering and hungry,
Chilled to the bone…
But that pup- he had me…

Well he grew up wild,
In these backwoods runnin’ free…
But his favorite space,
Was the one right next to me…
Some folks might think
He was just a mixed breed mutt…
But they never saw him ride shotgun
In my pickup truck…
All he wanted to be…
Was my dog…

Wherever farm work took me,
He was sure to go…
Protecting and defending me,
In summer heat and winter snow…
No matter what the challenge
His loyalty ran deep…
I’ve never seen anyone
More skilled at herdin’ sheep…
So quick, so smart, so unafraid…

Well he grew up wild,
In these backwoods runnin’ free…
But his favorite space,
Was the one right next to me…
Some folks might think
He was just a mixed breed mutt…
But they never saw him ride shotgun
In my pickup truck…
All he wanted to be…
Was my dog…

Well how on earth,
Could he sense the danger…
In that rough old hedgerow,
Death seemed a far-off stranger…
He heard the rattle,
Took the vicious strike…
His heart was pierced
By a fatal snakebite…
His sacrifice saved my life…

And I still see him wild,
In my memory runnin’ free…
But his favorite space,
Was right here next to me…
Some folks might think…
He was just a mixed breed mutt…
But they never saw him ride shotgun
In my pickup truck…
All he wanted to be…
Was my dog…
Always….my dog…