The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #126744 Message #2820056
Posted By: Artful Codger
24-Jan-10 - 01:29 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Bark Gay Head
Subject: RE: Origins: Bark Gay Head
Joe: It's certainly suggestive that the chorus ends with "root, hog or die" and that the metrical structure (though exceedingly common) does match that tune. But the phrase was popular before the song was written, and most derivitives share two characteristics this text does not: they end every verse with that phrase, and they have no chorus. In other respects, the derivatives bear little resemblance to the original, so not much more can be inferred.
John: Thanks for the information on Huntington.