When I was a lad
And old Shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we'd stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way


I remember the time at the old swimmin' hole
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old Shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and helped pull me out


As the years fast did roll
Old Shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him Jim


With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at Shep's faithful head
I just couldn't do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead


He came to my side
And he looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see


Old Shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There's one thing I know
Old Shep has a wonderful home

[A][Bdim][A7][D][A7][D]
When [D]I was a [B7]lad, and old [E7]Shep was a pup, o'er [A7]hills and meadows [A+]we'd [D]roam,
just a boy and his [B7]dog, we were [E7]both full of fun, we [A]grew up [Bdim]to[A7]gether that [D]way.
I [D7]re[G]member [D7]the [Gm6]time at the [D]old swimming hole, when I would have [Adim]drowned beyond [A7]doubt,
[D]Shep was right [B7]there to the [E7]rescue he came, he [A7]jumped in [Bdim]and [A7]helped pull me [D]out.[Bdim][A7]

So the [D]years rolled a[B7]long and at [E7]last he grew old, his [A7]eyesight was fast gro[A+]wing [D]dim.
Then one day the [B7]doctor looked [E7]at me and said, I [A]can't do [Bdim]no   [A7]more for him [D]Jim.
[D7]With a [G]hand that [D7]was [Gm6]trembling, I [D]picked up my gun, I aimed it at [Adim]Shep's faithful [A7]head.
I [D]just couldn't [B7]do it, I [E7]wanted to run, and I [A7]wished that [Bdim]they'd [A7]shoot me in[D]stead.[Bdim][A7]

I [D]went to his [B7]side and [E7]sat on the ground, he [A7]laid his head on [A+]my [D]knee,
I stroked the best [B7]pal that a [E7]man ever found, I [A]cried so    [Bdim]I       [A7]scarcely could [D]see.
[D7]Old [G]Sheppie [D7]he [Gm6]knew, he was [D]going to go, for he reached out and [Adim]licked at my [A7]hand.
He [D]looked up at [B7]me, just as [E7]much as to say, we're [A7]parting, [Bdim]but  [A7]you under[D]stand.[Bdim][A7]

Now [D]old Shep is [A#7]gone, where the [A7]good doggies [D]go,
and no [Bm]more with old [E7]Shep will I [A7]roam.
But if [D]dogs have a [B7]heaven, there's [E7]one thing I know,
old [A]Shep has     [Bdim]a     [A7]won - [D]der - [A7]ful  [D]home.

(Orig. = Capo 1)