God Dog

[Robin Williamson]

God Dog was written by Robin Williamson and recorded with the Incredible String Band in 1967 but not released at that time. He gave it to Shirley Collins though; she sang God Dog in 1969 on her and her sister Dolly’s album Anthems in Eden. This recording was also included on her anthologies A Favourite Garland (1974) and Within Sound (2002). She quoted Robin Williamson from an interview for Swing 51 magazine in her 2018 book All in the Downs (p. 128):

I thought it would be every suitable song for Shirley to sing because I’d always liked her voice. To me it’s a very natural voice and because God Dog is such an innocent song—it’s a child song really, I didn’t know anyone else who would be able to sing it. In the end, I guess I more or less wrote it for her.

The original Incredible String Band track was finally published in 1998 on their CD The Chelsea Sessions 1967. It was also included in 2005 on Castle Music’s 4 CD folk anthology Anthems in Eden.

Jack Sharp learned God Dog from Shirley and Dolly Collins’ 1969 album. He recorded it in 2020 for his album Good Times Older.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings God Dog

This dog is no puppy dog, she’s strange as the trees,
She’s as brown as the mountain and white as the breeze;
She walks on the water without any boots,
And her eyes are as fine as the music of flutes.
But she will not sweep chimneys nor will she pluck corn,
But she is the best little dog that ever was born.

I have lain in the womb of the rocks cold and chill
While she speaks in my heart with the voice of the hill.
And when I am risen and ready to run
She will laugh without laughter to welcome the sun.
But she will not learn language nor will she bear scorn,
But she is the best little dog that ever was born.

The water god offered me a ring of his rings
To buy the dog from me to teach the poor kings.
The ring’s on my finger, the dog runs behind,
Since watery palaces would ne’er suit her mind.
But as yet she can’t fly well nor play on the horn,
Still she is the best little dog that ever was born.