Old Joe And The Tailypo - Pretentious James

Lyrics by James Layton based on an Appalachian folktale.
Music written and performed for Drums, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, and Vocals by James Layton
#folktale #story #song #Appalachia #Appalachian

Lyrics:
In the Appalachians, many years ago,
there was a story of a hermit named Joe.
In a brutal winter, he met the little Tailypo.
The Tailypo snuck into his cabin out of the snow.
In the firelight, his eyes glowed bright yellow.
A hungry Joe saw the furry body and long tail.
"A little bit of meat in the stew would go over well."
Old Joe grabbed an ax and swung it quick.
Tailypo was fast but still took a lick.
He left behind blood and a tail that was bushy.
Escaped with his life, but didn't count himself lucky.
"Tailypo, tailypo, where is my tailypo?
I'm going to get it back from old Joe."

Joe tossed the tail in his stew.
After a meal, he felt as good as new.
Warm by the fire, he started to sleep,
but he would take, no matter how deep.
Tailypo hissed and scratched at his door.
Finding a way in, it crept across the floor.
It sprang into the air, pushing off of its paws.
It hopped up on his chest and opened up its claws.
Old Joe woke up to its grinning jaws,
its teeth sharp as a pair of hacksaws.
The beast, a violation of nature's laws.
"Tailypo, tailypo, where is my tailypo?
I'm going to get it back from old Joe."

The snow melted and birds began to sing.
Joe's cabin was quiet; they found him in the spring.
Sliced open wide, with multiple cuts,
it looked like an animal had spilled his guts.
The people from down the mountain quickly left.
They knew that Joe was guilty of theft,
because they heard a voice singing in the woods.
They wanted to forget it, if they only could.
"Tailypo, tailypo, I got back my tailypo?
Even if I had to pull it out of old Joe."