Well, apparently a plantation version can be traced back to the 1860's
, as recalled by Solomon Northup, one of the best known Black itinerant musicians of the 19th century according to Eileen Southern in her book THE MUSIC OF BLACK AMERICANS. This fragment is what's called a "patting song", one that was used for dancing when there weren't any instruments:

Who's been here since I've been gone?
Pretty little gal with a josey on.
Hog eye!
Old hog eye!
And Hosey too!
Never seen the like since I was born,
Here comes a little gal wid a josey on.
Hog eye!
Old hog eye!
And Hosey too!

There seems to be several "birds to kill" with this fragment, including our old friend "Hog Eye."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble