Al Dexter and Pistol Packin' Mama

[Traces]

 

Al Dexter was born in 1905 in Jacksonville, Texas. He became a musician and singer and, in 1936, wrote a song called "Honky Tonk Blues," which is regarded as the first Country and Western recording to use the term "honky tonk." In 1943 he had a massive hit song with "Pistol Packin' Mama," based on an incident he had witnessed in the East Texas oilfields. Once the chorus gets in your head it refuses to leave. The song has been covered by everybody from Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters to Boxcar Willie. Memorable lyrics include:

"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"
 

Here's the song:
 

[Stars at Night]

That's great stuff, Traces. Have you heard Eddie Dean's original version of I Dreamed I was in Hillbilly Heaven?  Eddie was a Texan.  It was made an even bigger hit by Tex Ritter but Tex always said Eddie sang it much better than he did.
 

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by Stars at Night