Listen to The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy by James McMurtry

The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy

James McMurtry

Country

Apple Music Note

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

James McMurtry - The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy [Official Audio]

Watch James McMurtry - The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy [Official Audio] on YouTube

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

James McMurtry

Vocals

Tim Holt

Electric Guitar

Cornbread

Bass

Daren Hess

Drums

Pat MacDonald

Harmonica

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

James McMurtry

Songwriter

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

James McMurtry

Producer

Don Dixon

Producer

Stuart Sullivan

Stuart Sullivan

Recording Engineer

Drew Potter

Assistant Engineer

Jackson Everly

Assistant Engineer

Dave Harris

Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

The black and the wandering boy

Come around every night

The wandering boy never gets any older

The black dog doesn't bite

He just sits on the floor at the corner of the bed

Watching for the things that hunt

They oughta both go away when I take my meds

But they don't

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

The sun's coming up, and it's seven in the morning

Another drink wouldn't hurt

Sitting outside on Mama's front porch

Watching the squares go to work

Then another one's on and another one's on

And another one rides the bus

Jammin' that old Weird Al song

And they ain't got time for us

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

There's somebody hiding

In that space beneath the stairs

I say I'm writing

But these old folks just don't care

Dinner time and I'm looking in the mirror

I'm sure enough getting old

Mom's down there, yelling up the stairs

Come on now, your food's getting cold

I'll come down when I'm damn good and ready

Won't you just let me be?

Leaning on the sink and I can't get steady

You're staring right back at me

I see my father with his patience wearing thin

Sometimes it bothers me, you look so much like him

There's something hiding in that space beneath the stairs

I try to find it, but my memory won't go there

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

The black and the wandering boy

Don't ever do any harm

They make no messes and they make no noise

They're no cause for alarm

Kinda got used to 'em being round the place

I don't care what Mama don't allow

I'm gonna miss 'em if they ever go away

They're such a part of me now

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

Hey, somebody lie to me

Written by: James McMurtry

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Chrome Web Store

Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility