A No Good Son-of-a-Gun
I don’t like work and I never will – He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I’d rather sleep than eat my fill -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I got me a job with the cattle crew
But the boss said Son I’m gonna fire you
So I guess that’s just what he’ll have to do -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Refrain:
Oh here I come, just takin’ my time
He’s a lazy, ramblin’ rovin’ gamblin’ no good son-of-a-gun..
My old hound dog has Buffalo fleas -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
And the weight of them has bent his knees -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
When he’d kill one ten more would hatch
So I sold him off with his new-born batch,
‘Cuz he tired me out just watchin’ him scratch -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Oh there must be some place I can go -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
Where the rain don’t fall and there ain’t no snow -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
Where the rooster wakes with his cock-a-doodle-do
And he says there’s lots of nothin’ to do
And the whole darn crew is going to help me too too -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Have you ever seen a turtle crawl -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
He takes his time, no hurry at all -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
He lives for a hundred years but still
He does no work and he pays no bill
So why should I -- I don’t think I will. -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Now I’ve been tired since life begun -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I don’t recall any work I’ve done -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
So I think I’ll marry me a wealthy wife
And settle down away from strife
And sleep all the rest of my natural life -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Pat Brady performing "A No-Good Son-of-a-Gun" in the Republic picture, "Sunset Serenade"
(Calin Coburn Collections ©2004)
This comic Bob Nolan song is variously knows as "A No-Good Son-of-a-Gun", "He's a No-Good Son-of-a Gun" and "I'm a No-Good Son-of-a Gun". The above words are from a typed lyric sheet.
Bob wrote it for the Columbia Pictures film, Call of the Rockies, in 1938 and
possibly in "Law of the Plains" three months later. It was published the next
year in "Bob Nolan’s Folio of Original Cowboy Classics No. l", © 1939 by
AMERICAN MUSIC, INC. The Sons of the Pioneers recorded in in 1940 for their
"Symphonies of the Sage" Orthacoustic radio transcriptions - this is the
recording you are hearing as you read this. Pat Brady performed the song at
least once more for a Roy Rogers picture in 1942, "Sunset
Serenade". It was so popular with the audience
that the Pioneers often used it on their personal appearances.
Photocopies of the
sheet music for this song
are
available from Calin Coburn, Bob Nolan's grandson.
Email
Calin for more details.
