Here is a version that I just discovered a month or so ago. It comes from Sheila Kay Adams, of Sodom, North Carolina, who got it from Bobby McMillon, who lives in Lenoir, N.C., but comes from over near Cosby, Tennessee. To my knowledge it has not been recorded by either Sheila or Bobby. In this version Mr. Bailey once again has three sons, but here he is named "Bingham" instead of "Abram", and his son is "Willie" rather than "Center". Also the refrain and the tune are quite different from the Harmon/Hicks version, almost like that of "Sir Eglamore" listed above in MMario's posting on Bronson(and in the DT). This version is much more bouncy and in a major key. However, the story line is quite similar to that of the Harmon/Hicks version. This one almost seems like a hybrid or a combination of several different traditions.

THE WILD BOAR

Bingham Bailey had three sons
Fal-a-day, fal-a-day, fal-a-rinks-dum-a-dairy-o
Bingham Bailey had three sons,
Willie was the youngest one
Fal-a-day, fal-a-day, fal-a-rinks-dum-a-dairy-o.

Willie would a hunting ride
With a sword and pistol by his side.

One day up on the greenwood side
Up in a tree a lady spied

What are you doing up in that tree?
I see you there my gay lady.

There be's a wild boar in these woods
He kilt my lord and he drunk his blood.

And how might I this wild boar see?
Just blow thy horn, he'll come to thee.

He popped his bugle to his mouth
And he blew it long both north and south

Over yander he comes through the bresh
He's a cutting his way through the oak and ash

They fit the fight up in the day
And in the end the boar he slayed

They rode down by the wild boar's den
And spied the bones of a thousand men.

They met the witch-wife on the bridge
"Be gone you rogue, you've kilt my pig!"

Hit's these three things I crave of thee
Thy hawk, thy hound, thy gay lady.

Hit's these three things you can't have from me
My hawk, my hound, my gay lady.

Into his locks the witch wife flew
"You durned old rogue I will kill you!"

He split the witch-wife to the chin
Then hit's up behind and away again.

They's a piece of corn bread a-laying on the shelf
If you want more sung, you'll have to sing it yourself.

Sheila says that the question always was when "he split the witch-wife to chin", where did he start from!