They Gotta Quit Kickin’ My Dog Around

[Verse 1]
I had an old dog and his name was Jake
I found him out in the old cane break
I figured he'd make a real good hound
As soon as he learned his way around
Pa said, "Son, what have you got?
He's [?] and Lord knows what"
Pretty soon word got spread around
Billy Joe's found a "Lord knows how"

[Chorus]
Oh, every time I go to town
The boys keep kickin' my dog around
Makes no difference if he is hound
You gotta quit kickin' my dog around

[Verse 2]
So, I took Jake out and schooled him hard
But he chased Ma's ducks all around the yard
He chased her chickens and a rabbit and a deer
And he chewed on the neighbor's milk cow's ear
We took Jakе to run a racoon
But he lead us straight to the town saloon
Whilе the sheriff sat there in trembling fear
Jake chewed his star and he drank his bear

[Chorus]
Oh, every time I go to town
The boys keep kickin' my dog around
Makes no difference if he is hound
You gotta quit kickin' my dog around

[Post-Chorus]
(Hey, ho!)

[Verse 3]
"Jake" I said, "You're my best friend
We'll stick together 'til the end"
Then under the window where Ma had sat
We spotted the tracks of a mountain cat
Jake took off [?]
He bellered that cat from here to there
And all them fellas showed up from town
To hear that cat and that crazy hound
My Jake he had that critter treed
The boys all looked and smiled at me
Way up high on the limb he sat
My mother's precious calico cat

[Chorus]
Oh, every time I go to town
The boys keep kickin' my dog around
Makes no difference if he is hound
You gotta quit kickin' my dog around (Come on, you guys)
Every time I go to town
The boys keep kickin' my dog around
Makes no difference if he is hound
You gotta quit kickin' my dog around (You hear what I say?)
Every time I go to town
The boys keep kickin' my dog around