Today’s song is “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” written by Al Dexter and performed by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters. 

Fun Facts: 

• Bing Crosby was born in 1903 as Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr. He was one of the leading multimedia stars of the 1930s and 1940s.
• The Andrews Sisters consisted of three sisters: LaVerne Sophia, Maxene Anglyn, and Patty Marie. They were one of the most popular and influential female vocal groups of the 20th century.
• Al Dexter, an American country musician, rose to fame as a songwriter and later a Broadway performer.
• “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” which is considered a “Hillbilly Honky Tonk” record, was written by Dexter and released in 1943, during World War II.
• The B-side track for this record was called “Rosalita.”
• The song was a hit, spending 16 weeks in the top 10 position on the National Best Selling Retail Records chart.
• Crosby and The Andrews Sisters recorded their version of the song following an industry-wide strike that prevented artists from producing new music.
• “Pistol Packin’ Mama” was featured on the country television show “Hee Haw” in 1975.

Lyrics:

(LyricFind)

Lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

Oh, drinking beer in a cabaret

Was I having fun

Until one night she caught me right

And now I’m on the run

Oh, lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

Oh, I’ll sing you every night Bing

And I’ll woo you every day

I’ll be your regular mama

And I’ll put that gun away

Oh, lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that thing down

Before it goes off

And hurts somebody

Oh, she kicked out my windshield

And she hit me over the head

She cussed and cried and said I lied

And she wished that I was dead

Oh, lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

We’re three tough gals

From deep down Texas way

We got no pals

They don’t like the way we play

We’re a rough rooting tooting shooting trio

But you ought to see my sister Cleo

She’s a terror make no error

But there ain’t no nicer terror

Here’s what we tell her

Lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

Pappy made a batch of corn

The revenuers came

The drought was slow

So now they know

You can’t do that to Mame

Oh, lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

Oh, singing songs in a cabaret

Was I having fun

Until one night it didn’t seem right

And now I’m on the run

Oh, lay that pistol down, babe

Lay that pistol down

Pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down

Oh, pistol packing mama

Lay that pistol down