Togo Goes a Wandering
One day as Daddy and I were walking, I heard him mumbling in a sing-songy way.
”What’s that noise you’re making?” I asked.
“Oh,” Daddy replied. “I was just remembering an old song we sang at Camp Blue Haven. I think it was called ‘The Happy Wanderer.’”
I had him stop right there and sing it to me. (I’d rather hear Daddy sing than eat. Of course, you would too, if you had ever heard him eat.) I liked the catchy tune. But the words didn’t make a lot of sense to me. So, after I got home, I went to work. The following is an adaptation — at least that’s what Daddy called it. I called it . . .
The Happy Togo1
I love to go a-wandering,
Along the Lunsford Trail,
And as I go, I love to sing,
And wag my big ol’ tail.
Chorus:
Pup-purie, Pup-pera,
Pup-purie,
Pup-pera-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha
Pup-purie, Pup-pera.
And wag my big ol’ tail.
I love to wander by the streets
That throw shadows in the sun,
So joyously I call for treats,
"Hey! Give me more than one!"
I wag my tail to all I meet,
And they wave back to me,
They hear the padding of my feet
As I sail by so free.
High overhead, the grackles group,
They never shut their mouth.
They follow me, they drop their poop,
As we scoot quickly south.
Oh, may I go a-wandering
Until the day I die!
Oh, may I always laugh and sing,
Beneath God's clear blue sky!
Perhaps someday, you might join us. Or at least think of us. Feel free to borrow my song.
Pup-purie, Pup-pera!
The Happy Wanderer. With apologies to all.
The cats want to sing too but they only wander to the next sun beam. Not nearly as exciting as your wandering. I think they do the most at night but they guard their night wandering secrets.
Togo is the Renaissance dog. From appearances of just a lay around the yard, cat despising, snack loving dog, he has emerged as observer, research scientist, philosopher, and now singer.