HYDER SIMPSON AND HIS DOG song lyrics
by Joel Sattler

[based on a 1962 episode of the Twilight Zone]

Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man
Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man
Hyder Simpson was a man
who lived life as best he can
Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man

down in 'Bama we go hunting for raccoons
from dawn to dusk to dawn July to June
as a meal they can't be eaten
as a prey they can't be beaten
you can catch them by the light of silver moons

Hyder Simpson had himself a dog named Rip
the winner of the raccoon hunting championship
loved that dog like no other
just like he's a little brother
no critter ever gave the pair of them the slip

one night Rip jumped in a pond to try and get
Hyder jumped in after him to save his pet
the bubbles came up to the top
finally the ripples stopped
neither one of them has come up for air yet

and when they woke they found they's walking down a trail
and came up to a wooden gate so goes the tale
and then the gatekeeper said "Hyder
you come in but there's a rider
you have to leave your dog or else you have to fail"

Hyder didn't even blink when he said "No!"
turned around and said "I'll walk Forever Road!
If my dog won't be admitted
then to limbo I'm committed.
If you aint gonna take my dog then I won't go!"

And so they walked themselves along the road awhile
and an angel came from up above and smiled
said "You really did quite well
because that's the Gate to Hell.
Any dog would smell the brimstone by a mile!"

Peter said to him "All dogs they go to Heaven.
And a good man is allowed to go up with 'em.
If he turns his back he had
his last chance and it was bad.
Cause the love of dog is more than just a blessin' "

Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man
Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man
Hyder Simpson had a friend
who was loyal to the end
Hyder Simpson was a Lookout Mountain man

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