The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #11353   Message #4058317
Posted By: GUEST,Mike Yates
09-Jun-20 - 04:34 AM
Thread Name: I give up. What's a HOGEYE?
Subject: RE: I give up. What's a HOGEYE?
I cannot see any reference to two short songs recorded in the Bahamas in 1935 by Alan Lomax and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle, which have been issued on the CD Deep River of Songs - Bahamas 1935. Ring Games and Round Dances (Rounder CD1832). These are:

SAND GONE IN MY CUCKOO-EYE

Oh, Sand Gone in My Cuckoo-Eye
Who says so?
I say so, I say so


WASP BITE NOBI ON HER CONCH-EYE

A wasp bite Nobi on her conch-eye
A wasp bite Nobi on her conch-eye
Oh, run here, Mama, come hold the light
See these Germans gone fight tonight
Wasp bite Nobi on her conch-eye

A note to the first song says, 'Note that 'cuckoo-eye' is sometimes replaced by 'neat-eye'. According to Nicolette Bethel, it is probable that these are old-fashioned regional expressions that refer to infidelity.

A similar note to the second song says, 'Here 'conch-eye' may refer to the female genitals'.