Animals figure in the bluegrass repertoire all over the place. “Molly and Tenbrooks” is a 19th-century horse race in song form. “Old Salty Dog Blues” is a stage standard. “Pig in a Pen,” “Crawdad Song,” “Ole Slew Foot,” “Rabbit in the Log,” “Groundhog” — barnyard and woodland songs going back to old-time. “Goodbye Old Pal” is the cowboy’s song to his dying horse. “Great Speckled Bird” makes a bird into a gospel symbol. Each one turns some creature into the heart of the story.

Each song’s page on Picker’s Guide has chord charts, lyrics, recordings, and song history.