Interesting that this thread has been revived. It is the thread that first drew me to Mudcat. I had heard the song and not knowing what it meant I googled Hogeye and Google brought me here and I've been hanging out every since.
    So I understand that a Hogeye is a type of towed boat whether on a canal or on the Frisco coast and a navvy is a laborer. Recently I noticed a line in the Bob Dylan song "Ain't Talkin'" that goes:
       Eatin hog-eyed grease in a hog-eyed town
I believe he is making subtle reference to the song "Hogeye" because 8 lines later he sings : Hand me down my walkin' cane. Does anyone know if hog-eyed grease in a hog-eyed town means anything or is it just some picturesque wordplay from Mr. Dylan.