D
Away down yonder in the state of Arkansas
G
Where my great-grandpa met my great-grandma
C
They drink apple cider and they get on a jag,
F                                    A7
And dance all night to the Salty Dog Rag.
D
They play an old fiddle like you never heard before,
G
They play the only tune that they ever did know-
C
It's a ragtime ditty and the rhythm don't drag,
F                              C         F
Now everybody's dancing to the Salty Dog Rag.

[Chorus]
D7
One foot front, drag it back,
G7
Then you start to ball the jack.
C
You shake and you break and then you sag.
F                                        A7
If your partner zigs, you're supposed to zag.
D7
Your heart is light, you tap your feet
                        G7
In rhythm with that ragtime beat.
C
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
F                          C         F
And dance all night to the Salty Dog Rag.

[Verse 2]
               D
Away down South 'neath the old Southern moon,
G
The possum's up a tree and the hounds've treed a coon
C
They hitch up a buggy to the broken-down nag
F                                   A7
And go out dancing to the Salty Dog Rag.
D
They tune up the fiddle and they rosin up the bow.
G
They strike a C chord on the old banjo
C
Then holler hang on 'cause we ain't gonna drag.
F                                    C        F
Now here's the way you dance to the Salty Dog Rag.

[Chorus]
D7
One foot front, drag it back,
G7
Then you start to ball the jack.
C
You shake and you break and then you sag.
F                                        A7
If your partner zigs, you're supposed to zag.
D7
Your heart is light, you tap your feet
                        G7
In rhythm with that ragtime beat.
C
Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
F                          C         F
And dance all night to the Salty Dog Rag.