Pistol Packin Mama

No, it's not a version of Aerosmith's Jamie's Janie's Got a Gun.  It's a number one song from 1943 composed by Al Dexter and recorded by Tex Ritter.  When I was a kid out on Pepop's boat hauling crab pots, he often broke into song.  There were songs about Popeye the Sailor Man who liked to go swimming with bowlegged women and songs about Rye Whiskey.  Needless to say, most of the songs he sang he told me not to sing in front of my parents because they "might not appreciate it as much as he did".  One of his favorites and mine too was the song Pistol Packin Mama.  I can still hear his deep baritone voice singing the chorus which was always dotted with staccato "Go's!" when he would indicate it was time to thrown the rebaited pot back in the water.

I still remember the words and I even have the song on my iPod.  Not many 30-somethings can say that.  And I sing the song often enough that the Brat Child suggested I put "Pistol Packin Mama" on the back of my tye-dyed T-Shirt I made for Busch Gardens.

BC: You should put that Pistol Mama on your shirt.

ME: I don't think that would be such a good idea.  Someone might think I have a gun.

BC: You should take one and you could shoot the bad guys!

ME: There aren't many bad guys at Busch Gardens.

BC: You could just put Big Mama on your shirt!

Just call me Big Mama.

Pistol Packin' Mama

Drinkin' beer in a cabaret And I was havin' fun!
Until one night she caught me right, And now I'm on the run

Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.

She kicked out my windshield, She hit me over the head,
She cussed and cried, and said I lied, And I wished that I was dead.

Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.
Drinkin' beer in a cabaret, And dancing with a blonde,
Until one night she shot out the light, Bang! That blonde was gone.

Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.

I'll see you every night Babe, I'll woo you every day,
I'll be your regular Daddy, If you'll put that gun away.

Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.
Lay that pistol down Babe, Lay that pistol down,
Pistol Packin' Mama, Lay that pistol down.