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"My Pony Boy" is a popular song written in 1909 by Bobby Heath (lyrics) and Charley O'Donnell. It was incorporated into the Broadway musical Miss Innocence (1909) where it was introduced by Lillian Lorraine.[1]
| "My Pony Boy" | |
|---|---|
 Sheet music cover (1909) | |
| Song | |
| Language | English |
| Published | 1909 |
| Songwriter(s) | Composer: Charley O'Donnell Lyricist: Bobbie Heath |
Along with songs like "Cheyenne", it became a cliché, as its tune was frequently used in Western movies and cartoons. It works especially well when played on a "honky tonk" piano.
The first verse explains that the central character of the song has many female admirers; the second that the "Fluffy Ruffle girl" has won his heart. The chorus:
- Pony Boy, Pony Boy
- Won't you be my Tony boy
- Don't say no
- Here we go
- Off across the plains
- Marry me
- Carry me
- Right away with you
- Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, whoa!
- My Pony Boy[2]
The old expression "giddy up", exhorting a horse to gallop at high speed, is a corruption of "get ye up". "Tony" is a hypocorism (affectionate shortened version) of "Anthony", although the adjective "tony" refers to someone of high "tone" or social elegance.[3]
In the 1931 Krazy Kat short Rodeo Dough, a female spaniel sings the song after Krazy wins a rodeo event. In the 1950s, The song was used in a commercial selling a juice concentrate also called Pony Boy.
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Ada Jones recorded it for Victor Records # 16356 in August 1909.[4]
Peerless Quartet recorded for Columbia Records (catalog No. 713) in May 1909.[5]
Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album On the Happy Side (1962).
Bruce Springsteen included a modified version as the last song on his 1992 album Human Touch.
- Heath, Bobbie; O'Donnell, Charlie. "My Pony Boy" (sheet music). New York: Jerome H. Remick & Co. (1909).
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