A No Good Son-of-a-Gun

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: April 5, 1938

I don’t like work and I never will – He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I’d rather sleep than eat my fill -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I got me a job with the cattle crew
But the boss said Son I’m gonna fire you
So I guess that’s just what he’ll have to do -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.

Refrain:
Oh here I come, just takin’ my time
He’s a lazy, ramblin’ rovin’ gamblin’ no good son-of-a-gun..

My old hound dog has Buffalo fleas -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
And the weight of them has bent his knees -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
When he’d kill one ten more would hatch
So I sold him off with his new-born batch,
‘Cuz he tired me out just watchin’ him scratch -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.
Oh there must be some place I can go -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
Where the rain don’t fall and there ain’t no snow -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
Where the rooster wakes with his cock-a-doodle-do
And he says there’s lots of nothin’ to do
And the whole darn crew is going to help me too too -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.

Have you ever seen a turtle crawl -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
He takes his time, no hurry at all -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
He lives for a hundred years but still
He does no work and he pays no bill
So why should I -- I don’t think I will. -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.

Now I’ve been tired since life begun -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
I don’t recall any work I’ve done -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun
So I think I’ll marry me a wealthy wife
And settle down away from strife
And sleep all the rest of my natural life -- He’s a no-good son-of-a-gun.

This comic Bob Nolan song is variously known as "A No-Good Son-of-a-Gun", "He's a No-Good Son-of-a Gun" and "I'm a No-Good Son-of-a Gun". The above words are from a typed lyric sheet.

According to some sources, Bob wrote it for the Columbia Pictures film Call of the Rockies in 1938 and possibly in Law of the Plains three months later but the films are unavailable to us so we cannot confirm this.

The Sons of the Pioneers recorded it in 1940 for their Symphonies of the Sage Orthacoustic radio transcriptions. Pat Brady performed the song at least once more for a Roy Rogers picture in 1942, Sunset Serenade. It was so popular with the audience that the Pioneers often used it on their personal appearances.

The song was registered for copyright on April 5, 1938, and the sheet music was published the next year in Bob Nolan’s Folio of Original Cowboy Classics No. l, © 1939 by American Music, Inc.

A No Good Son-of-a-Gun (American Music, Inc.)

Hundreds of Bob Nolan's songs were lost in a garage fire so we are constantly on the lookout for bits and pieces he left with friends. He wrote on whatever paper was handy when the spirit moved him—and left them behind. He also had his friends copy them out for him because he was embarrassed about his poor spelling. These lyric sheets were found in a collection of Bob Nolan compositions and ephemera of Frances Shepp Irvine Longstreet, one of his close friends who also wrote an article about him.

SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS

Orthacoustic Symphonies of the Sage transcriptions, No. (064397)

Teleways Radio Productions transcriptions, Nos. 23, 63, 75, 92, 121, 198, 215, and 236 (c. 1947-48)

Lucky U Ranch radio shows (courtesy of Larry Hopper)
- Transcriptions disc TR-176/177 (January 4, 1952)
- Transcriptions disc TR-608/609 (December 17, 1952)