I recently sang some Pacific Northwest folksongs for three classes of middle school students in Seattle. One of the songs was "The Frozen Logger", as written by James Stevens. I have sung this song for well over sixty years. In the fourth verse I sang, as Jim wrote it and I've always understood it:

"HE NEVER WOULD SHAVE A WHISKER,
OFFEN HIS HORNEY HIDE,
HE'D JUST DRIVE THEM IN WITH A HAMMER,
AND BITE THEM OFF INSIDE."

Well this roomfull of young teenagers reacted to the word "horney", as did the teacher. I noticed the reaction, but kept true to the song and went on singing.

A few years ago my wonderful friend Don Firth and I gave a concert in Seattle, where he also sang this song. I also noticed an audience reaction to the word "horney"... this time from my 16 year old granddaughter.

I expect that I'll be invited back to this school soon to give a concert for the entire school. If so, I'd like to sing "The Frozen Logger" again. BUT ... and here is the question ... is it time that I change the word "horney" to something else? And if so, what word would you suggest?   CHEERS, bob(deckman)nelson