Der Deitcher's Dog (Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone? original 1864 version)

This is a great example of songs you think you know, but don't. This was a comedy song written by Septimus Winner in 1864 about a German immigrant looking for his lost dog and eventually realizing what must have happened to it.

The actual title is "Der Deitcher's Dog". "Deitcher" was a common spelling of "Deustcher" ("German man") used in American songs (songs about Germans were in vogue), to somewhat approximate the pronunciation of the German word.

For this video I found images of American money and a map of Germany which were correct for the period.

I sing badly, I know. But it wasn't meant to be sung well anyway, which is why I found video clips of some bad Bavarian dancing (from a comedy routine) to go along with it!

You can download the original sheet music here:
http://digitalcollections.baylor.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/fa-spnc/id...
or here:
https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/5426

Lyrics:

1.
Oh where, Oh where ish mine little dog gone;
Oh where, Oh where can he be.
His ears cut short und his tail cut long:
Oh where, Oh where ish he.

CHORUS
Tra la la la la la la la la la la,
la la la la la la la la la la,
Tra la la la la la la la la la la
Tra la la la la la la.

2.
I loves mine lager 'tish very goot beer,
Oh where, Oh where can he be.
But mit no money I cannot drink here,
Oh where, Oh where ish he.

(CHORUS)

3.
Across the ocean in Garmanie,
Oh where, Oh where can he be.
Der deitchers dog ish der best companie.
Oh where, Oh where ish he.

(CHORUS)

4.
Un sasage ist goot, bolonie of course,
Oh where, Oh where can he be.
Dey makes um mit dog und dey makes em mit horse,
I guess de makes em mit he.

(CHORUS)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sep. Winner
• Septimus
• Winner
• Septimus Winner
• 19th Century
• Comic Ballad
• historic
• music

[Limastudent]

Tell the people the real message of Ring Around the Rosie. I know the historical background and cringe whenever I hear children sing it. Most Mother Goose and very old songs have historical references, some awful.

[Keeper1st]

@Limastudent Oh indeed, and "London Bridge is Falling Down" has a verse about sacrificing children to ensure its safety, a common practice in those days. "See Saw Margery Daw" has a verse about her prostituting herself... It's been ages since I looked those up!

[gaspump]

Personally, I liked the singing. Though I'd have to say it sounds more like cheesy-pirate accent than bad-German accent!

[Keeper1st]

@gaspump Heheh... Arrr, where hast me wee scurvy dog gone off ter?

[tobias11122]

Ein prosit auf die Klischees

[fandangobaha]

i did plan on going to sleep tonight but whatever man.... ;_;

[cmuistbesseralsdu]

typical germans.

[corporalkills]

I liked that history lesson alot! Please do more songs like that that we think we know. I'd love to hear the origins of more songs. :)

[akawhut]

@Keeper1st Thank you. Event though I am a born german, I can barely understand those guys. That's because they're bavarian. That also the channel they appeared on. Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcast), but it's still funny to watch those hillbillys.