Songfacts®:

• In "Sic 'Em Dogs On," bluesman Bukka White threatens to tell police about a woman who took his money, cheated, and sicced her dogs on him (to "sic" a dog is to let it loose to attack).
• White recorded this song in 1939 for traveling folklorist John Lomax. He recorded under the name Washington White, which was also the name he used for the first singles he released in 1930 and 1931. The song wasn't made publicly available until 1967 when Herwin Records released it as a single with "Po' Boy" as the B-side.
  
  In 1970, the Roots label included the song on a country-blues compilation titled Cream Of The Crop. In 1972, Herwin Records released a Delta blues compilation titled Sic 'Em Dogs On Me. Also in '72, White included the song on his own album, Baton Rouge Mosby Street, also released by Herwin. Since that time, various White compilations and general blues compilations have included the song.
• White had an interesting career, with his second act eclipsing his first. Born sometime between 1900 and 1909, he first recorded in 1930 and released some gospel and country blues singles under the name Washington White. He continued to record through the '30s with some success but was sentenced to prison for shooting a man in the leg. While imprisoned, his song "Shake 'Em On Down" became a hit.
  
  After getting out of prison, White continued performing for friends and family and still had his chops when the 1960s folk revival brought his music to the surface for a whole new generation. He spent his final years touring Europe and North America and enjoying the peak of his commercial success. He passed away from cancer on February 26, 1977.
• Canned Heat based their song "Sic 'Em Pigs" on this tune.