The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #51031   Message #959003
Posted By: toadfrog
25-May-03 - 03:59 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: songs by The Red Clay Ramblers
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN BACON WAS SCARCE
I believe this is the full song. Maggie Hammons Porter or one or another of the Hammons's may have composed it, or it may be traditional. Hammons's being about as traditional as you can get, I'm not real sure there is a difference.

BOB PORTER

One year one year, when bacon was scarce,
And us havin' none,
We mounted our horses and shouldered our guns,
Straightaway to the wildwood we must steer,
To kill off the wild hogs and drive in the dear.

When we got there we rambled a while
We looked at each other beginning to smile
Saying "ain't these the same hogs we fit here before,
The old blue sow and the black listed boar?"

The old blue sow lay still in her bed
He ring everywhere that John Likens he said [?]
She sprang from her bed and beginning to run
As soon as she did, it was Porter's old gun.

Now she moaned and she groaned and lay sick in her bed,
Said, "now you will suffer for what you have said!
"Your streets they will rattle, the waters will roar!
"The cowhide will crack, 'till your back is all sore!"

In Green are the Woods, sung by Helena Triplett.
Liner notes say: "I learned this song from Maggie Hammons [Parker], with additions from Zona Hammons Gear. I haven't found any other reference for this song.