The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #6059 Message #868696
Posted By: Genie
16-Jan-03 - 04:38 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req/ADD: Pig in a Pen
Subject: Author Credit: Pig In A Pen
The liner notes for Old & In The Way's album "Breakdown" say that Pig In A Pen was "composed by Grand Ole Opry fiddler Arthur Smith, who recorded it with The Delmore Brothers in 1937." They go on to say that as the song "became a favorite with old-time musicians," it "garner[ed] added verses from the old mountain lyric song traditions."
In Old & In The Way's Version "Jerry [Garcia] sings the same verses as Carter Stanley, which are different from those sung by Smith."
Their verses, FWIW, are pretty much the same as those above, in a different order, with two omitted:
Chorus: I got a pig home in a pen, Corn to feed him on. All I need's a pretty little girl to feed him when I'm gone
Bake them biscuits, baby, Bake 'em good and brown. When you get them biscuits baked We're Alabama Bound
Goin o'er the mountain to sow a little cane. Put that old Grey bonnet on, little Liza Jane.
Dark clouds a' rising, Sure sign of rain. Get your old grey bonnet on, Sweet little Liza Jane