Michael Jackson - “Rockin’ Robin”
“Groovy Grubworm” by whoever that was
Genesis - “White Mountain” (about wolves)
…and the winner…
Talking Heads - “Animals”
Perhaps the Rockin’ Robin ate the Groovy Grubworm.
Damn…you beat me to it! I love that album.
Rover,from Heavy Horses.
“I chase your every footstep
and I follow every whim.
When you call the tune I’m ready
to strike up the battle hymn.
My lady of the meadows —
My comber of the beach —
You’ve thrown the stick for your dog’s trick
but it’s floating out of reach.”
Mouse Police Never Sleeps
“From warm milk on a lazy day to dawn patrol of hungry hate”
Surprised this one hasn’t been mentioned yet.
“The Very Last Time” - Alan Parsons (written by Ian Bairnson about his dead dog)
‘Silver Palomino’, Bruce Springsteen.
Heh. I almost chimed in with his “Beautiful Red Horse” before I remember that’s my mondegreen for “Beautiful Reward”.
Cowboy Junkies’** A Horse in the Country **is legit though.
Bob Dylan’s “Man Gave Names to All the Animals” would qualify, except it totally sounds like a kids’ song.
Dylan’s “New Pony” counts though. And how about “If Dogs Run Free”…
The Unicorn by the Irish Rovers
“The Unicorn” is absolutely a kids’ song. The Irish* Rovers paved the way for Raffi. They went on to make an entire double album (Tales to Warm Your Mind) on the subject of childhood. Although it was written from more of an adult perspective, indulging childhood, but including some dark stuff, like I went to gather blaeberries and the fairies abducted my darlin baby-O. Hmm, next we could start a thread on weird supernatural or ultraterrestrial entities in song, e.g. faeries, jinn, Mothmen, and generally the sort of adventures the Winchester brothers keep encountering.
*Don’t let the name fool you; they’re from Canada.
Speaking of Dylan songs, there’s “Black Crow Blues,” “All the Tired Horses,” “Day of the Locusts,” “Turkey Chase,” “Cat’s in the Well,” “Froggie Went A-Courtin’.”
My apologies if I missed it, but has anyone said “Muskrat Love” by The Captain and Tenille?
“Fred (You were a good dog.)” by Ray Stevens.
What Does the Fox Say? by Ylvis
Big Red, that country song about a prison escapee
At the Zoo, Paul Simon
My Girl’s Pussy (For God’s sake, people, it’s about a cat!) R. Crumb/Cheap Suit Serenaders
Lemme Play With Your Poodle by Clarence Carter
A few by Marcy Playground:
“Dog and His Master”
“Secret Squirrel”
“Pigeon Farm”
“Love Bug”
“Blackbird”
Some by The Pixies:
“Caribou”
“Manta Ray”
“Havalina”
“Monkey Gone to Heaven”
“Bird Dream of The Olympus Mons”
“Snakes”
“Silver Snail”
“There Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” and “Boogie in the Barnyard” by Louis Jordan.
Has anyone mentioned “Little Red Rooster” yet?
“Wildfire” by Michael Murphy
“Boudreau Was a Nutcase” by Austin Lounge Lizards
“Yellow Backed Fly” by Steve Martin/Steep Canyon Rangers
Blue Tail Fly (Jimmy Crack Corn) - Burl Ives
Delilah is Freddy Mercury singing about his cat on Queen’s Innuendo album.
Stewball is Peter, Paul, and Mary singing about a horse
Butterfly (She Flies Alone) is Steve Augery singing on Journey’s Generations album
Did anyone mention the Beatles’ Hey Bulldog?
Crosby, Stills, and Nash wrote an apologetic song to/about Whales (but I can’t remember the title)
They also have a song “After the Dolphin” but it’s about a bar in England.
Their song Guinevere mentions “Peacocks wandered aimlessly…”
Elton John admires the Gray Seal on his Yellow Brick Road album
Heart sings about the tranquility of the *Dog & Butterfly
*Kenny Loggins sings about All the Pretty Little Ponies (well, okay, that was a lullaby for his kid)
RUSH sings about Bytor – oh, and the Snow-Dog
The Scorpions sing about The Zoo, but it’s about the singles bar scene.
Lastly, David Coverdale sings
In the still of the night I hear the wolf howl honey,
Sniffin’ around at your door…
…–Still of the Night
…Whitesnake
—G!
Zebra “Bears”
Don’t Kill The Whale - Yes