Woodbridge Dog Disaster

Originally written by Royston Wood in 1981 and popularised by Stan Rogers (of Barrett's Privateers fame). The song tells a (likely fictional) account of a terribly comedic series of events taking place in Woodbridge, (either the one in Ontario, Canada or the one in Suffolk, UK). The question of which Woodbridge was meant is debated, though Royston Wood was from Surrey and performed with The Young Tradition, an English folk group. Draw what conclusions you care to.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns in their livestreams. The original lyrics can be found here.

>
> There was an old woman in Woodbridge, there was,
>
> So proper and tidy and all of them things,
>
> She would wander all day with her duster in hand.
>
> She was one of those women who clean where they stand,
>
> And while she is at it she sings, boys!
>
> {And while she is at it, she sings!}
>
>
>
> Now, there's no doubt about it, her house was a show,
>
> With everything proper and stowed in its place,
>
> And that's why her dustbins had a shed of their own.
>
> Like a mirror, each one of those bins it had grown!
>
> You could read every line in your face, boys!
>
> {You could read every line in your face!}
>
>
>
> Now, there's nothing the matter with tidiness, no,
>
> No matter with keeping your house up to scratch,
>
> But these bins were located one side of a yard,
>
> Where a Doberman Pinscher was prowling on guard,
>
> Trained to kill if you lifted the latch, boys!
>
> {Trained to kill if you lifted the latch!}
>
>
>
> Now it's all very well to protect what is yours,
>
> And it's better not leaving temptation around,
>
> But the job of the "dust" is rewarding enough,
>
> And there's nothing like taking the smooth with the rough,
>
> To be savaged by some bloody hound, boys!
>
> {To be savaged by some bloody hound!}
>
>
>
> Now, this Doberman Pinscher would play in the yard,
>
> And a couple of old tennis balls was his game.
>
> In his make-believe game, it's himself that he saw,
>
> As the world's only dog with a bionic jaw,
>
> And that's when the garbage-man came, boys!
>
> {And that's when the garbage-man came!}
>
>
>
> Now, fate took a hand on this coldest of days,
>
> For his wife, she had made him to wear a warm coat,
>
> And to knot up his muffler to keep out the chill,
>
> And, for once in his life, he had bent to her will,
>
> And the dog couldn't get at his throat, boys!
>
> {And the dog couldn't get at his throat!}
>
>
>
> Now, when the woman above was drawn to the noise,
>
> It's down from a high chamber-window she calls,
>
> To the dustman, engaged in a struggle for life,
>
> In a middle-class tone you could cut with a knife,
>
> She loudly exclaimed, "Kick his balls!" boys!
>
> {She loudly exclaimed, "Kick his balls!"}
>
>
>
> Now, the dustman could scarcely believe the command,
>
> But he didn't have time to request it again,
>
> So ignoring distinction of language and class,
>
> He unleashed a size ten at the Doberman's ass,
>
> And its eyes misted over with pain, boys!
>
> {And its eyes misted over with pain!}
>
>
>
> Now, imagine the silence that followed that blow,
>
> With the command ringing on in the poor dustman's ears,
>
> And as the poor doggie lay writhing around,
>
> He could see the two tennis balls there on the ground,
>
> And her meaning was rendered quite clear, boys!
>
> {And her meaning was rendered quite clear!}
>
>
>
> Now, I'd like to explain that this dog was "at stud",
>
> And the dustman was sued for the fees he had lost,
>
> But it's lucky he was to escape with his life!
>
> He went home with a kiss for his poor startled wife,
>
> Who harangued him for what it might cost, boys!
>
> {Who harangued him for what it might cost!}
>
>
>
> Now, if there's a moral to be gained from this song,
>
> It's that innocent language might sometimes sound crude,
>
> And as in the case of the carpenter's mate,
>
> Your linguistic enlightenment might arrive late,
>
> And you could end up getting screwed, boys!
>
> {And you could end up getting screwed!}
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### **Full Band Streams**

* Album Launch Party! Cures What Ails Ya, Available June 10th (Preorder Now) (10 Jun 2020)
* Boulevard of Broken Streams (17 Feb 2021)
* Hark the Herald Angels Stream (21 Dec 2022)

#### **Chill Streams**

* Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020