Moose Song

According to Cantaria: Contemporary:, The Moose Song was written by Tom Payton.

The following is a response that I got from Tom Payton when I sent him an E-mail telling him that I had learned this song from Morris Dancers and asking him if he was the Tom Payton who wrote The Moose Song

Subj: Re: The Moose Song
Date: 6/7/01 10:08:40 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Blackstumproad@aol.com
To: Scynthius@aol.com

Greetings!

Always glad to hear about folk enjoying the Moose. It amazes me how far the bloody thing has gone! I know it's all over the net. If there's anything about it's history you want to know, I'll see what I can come up with.

I'm only guilty of the first five(I think) verses. There have been some great ones added by others, as you know. I'd say use the ones you like best.

How did you find me? Just curious. I have a web site: Tom Payton Historical Art - Home - No Moose material yet, but you never know.

   By the way, Morris Dancers are nifty!
       Keep in touch
           Tom

This was my resonse.

Tom,
I first learned about you at http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/moose.html. Somehow I missed out on the fact that there is a MailTo: Blackstumproad@aol.com link on your name. So I did a search for "Tom Payton" "Civil War" on www.yahoo.com.

Tom Payton wrote four verses around 1977 while involved in Revolutionary War re-enacting. He was also involved in SCA, Civil War, Wicca and had friends who played rugby, so the song inevitably spread, and many, many verses have been added over the years. Many more actually exist than are listed here. The folk process at work, for better or worse! Tom has specified that this song is in the public domain now. Thanks Tom!

Here are the verses as I like to sing them.

  1. When I was a young man I used to like girls,
    I'd fondle their bodies I'd play with their curls,
    'Til my wife ran away with a saleman named Bruce,
    Now you'd never be treated that way by a moose!

     
    Chorus:

    Then its moose, moose, I like a moose.
    I have never had anything quite like a moose.
    I've had many lovers, my life has been loose,
    But I've never had anything quite like a moose.

     

  2. I've done it with all kinds of beasties with hair,
    I'd do it with snakes if their fangs were not their,
    I've done it with llamas, sheep, dogs and a goose,
    But I've never had anything quite like a moose!

    Chorus
     

  3. When I'm in the need for a very good lay,
    I go to the closet and pull out some hay,
    I open the window and spread it around,
    Because moose will come running when there's hay to be found.

    Chorus
     

  4. When I am an old man, advanced in my years,
    I'll look back on my life and shed me no tears,
    I'll sit in my rocker with a glass of Matoose,
    Playing hide the salami with Marvin the Moose.

    Chorus
     

  5. I've died, gone to heaven, my soul soars away,
    I show up at those gates with my bale of hay,
    Now they're bound to inquire as to my grin,
    And I'll wind up in hell humpin' mooses again.

    (Lines 1-3 are sung slowly with much bellowing in background Line 4 is the fastest line of the whole song.) From: Dave Martucci

    Chorus
     

Last Updated August 19, 2001.

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