BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'

Subject: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 04:06 PM

I encountered for the first time the word 'swanging' (swangin') in a song done by the Bay City Rollers (I know, I know). I did a little browsing and can't get a meaning for it. The line was "somebody said that they saw me, swangin' the world by the tail". It seems to have a usage in rap music, also. Can anyone out there in Mudcat Land enlighten me? I know that the occasional 'good ol' boy' will use that as the pronunciation for 'swinging', as in "I was swinging on the tree limb." However, I don't get it. I expect the word is new to the language. Has it made its way out of the USA?

Thanks, y'all.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,ella
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 06:44 PM

The Rollers!!! Thanks for the blast from the past. Maybe it does just mean swinging, could it be the scottish accent?

But lest not forget they also gave us the "shang-a-lang", I don't think that meant anything too precise.

They were produced, in part by the acclaimed Phil Coulter, think he also wrote a couple for them...but not sure on that one.

Having spent alot of my pre-pubescent years with a tartan scarf dangling from my arm, I am intrigued as to why you have mentioned them?

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 07:06 PM

I was the passenger in a car, and the lady who was driving is a major, big-time fan of theirs. She goes to their concerts whenever she can. She had one of their CDs playing, and that line stuck in my head. The melody was good, and they did a neat job with the song. Now, four days later, I can't get the darn word outta my head. I have got to find out what it means. Thanks, Ella.

Bruce M

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: harvey andrews
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 07:18 PM

It's "swinging" in a bad mid-atlantic accent.It's a language neither American nor British and its first dictionary is being compiled by Prof. E. John of Watford Uni, it's best known exponent.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 07:24 PM

Thanks, Harvey. However, it must have associate/deviate meanings, because the stuff I read on some 'rap' "lyric" sites are at odds with that. Danged if I can figure it out. Something to puzzle me in my dotage I suppose.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 07:25 PM

"Swinging the world by the tail" is a pretty common colloquialism down here in Bubbaland, and "swangin'" is probably nothing but a take on southern US diphthongization. From a linquistic standpoint, the "a" sound in "swang" is not a single vowel sound at all, but two sounds, one of which slides into the other. No self-respecting Southerner will ever use just a single vowel sound in a word if there's any way to squeeze in two or three. I have often heard the name "Bill" turned into a three-syllable word by my Alabama neighbors. It goes something like "Bah-ee-ull".

Another word which undergoes the same transformation as "swing" to "swang" is "pink" to "pank". Of course, there are those of us who believe that there is a definite difference between "pink" and "pank". I shade of pink that appeals to you is "pink" while a shade that is gaudy, gauche and obnoxious is "pank".

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 08:04 PM

Well, sir, I think you very much.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,ella
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 08:05 PM

I must be thinking of a different Bay City Rollers....seventies Scottish teenybop band. They sort of disappeared over here in a bit of a foggy scandal many moons ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 08:10 PM

Ella, Bee-dubya-ell says you're 'thanking'. "I must be THANKING of a different . . .".

Think you for responding. And now, because I'm getting confused, I thank I go get a drank.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,ella
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 08:48 PM

No problem, thought I was tipping you the wink there for a moment, but couldn't have been. Thank I'll join you in that drink, me too confused now.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 08:53 PM

I will consider myself wanked. HA HA. Thank you, Ella. Makes an old guy feel good.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,ella
Date: 10 Jan 04 - 09:00 PM

All part of the service m'lud.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,jake
Date: 23 May 07 - 05:27 PM

thx for the understandable explaination for the Ukrainian guy)))

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST, Eb
Date: 23 May 07 - 07:41 PM

"Swang youah pahtnah twass a-round" See?

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: bobad
Date: 23 May 07 - 09:57 PM

Swing
Swang
Swung

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 May 07 - 10:11 PM

Not swang, swang, swang?

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 May 07 - 10:17 PM

We used "swang" as Bodad declined it: "He swang the bat and missed."

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 May 07 - 10:50 PM

Waal I swow!
Swang- to sway to and fro. From about 1250. OED. Peace, you just diskiverin the English language?

Also-
Swang- A boggy depression or swamp. OED. 17th c.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Peace
Date: 23 May 07 - 10:53 PM

Yeppers, Q. Two eggs "lookin' atcha".

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 24 May 07 - 02:31 AM

Is this where the music "... don't mean a thang if it aint got that twang"...?

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Bert
Date: 24 May 07 - 06:32 PM

...No self-respecting Southerner will ever use just a single vowel sound in a word if there's any way to squeeze in two or three...

'cept in the case of Louisiana - which they pronounce Loosiana!

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: jeffp
Date: 24 May 07 - 10:04 PM

Especially Nawlins!

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: Gurney
Date: 25 May 07 - 05:51 AM

Swang:
Green swarth in a lower part of a field. North of England.
Swamp or bog. Yorkshire.
Swing with violence. Eastern counties.

Swange:
The groin.   Morte Arthure.MS.

Swangene:
Struck.    Morte Arthure.MS.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,jake
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 01:42 AM

well,to define the word swangin'.....

its when the driver of a vehicle is intoxicated, under the influence,what have you, and happens to be swerving across the lanes of the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Sep 07 - 04:06 PM

There was a popular country song that included in the refrain, "and we war [wuz???] swanging'"

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,Mike
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 03:06 AM

"My music's so loud, I'm swanging" are the lyrics from a defunct rap song.This indicates that it has some sort of meaning regarding swerving or swaying

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 06:27 AM

I'm thinking of the same one Susan, but I cannot prise any other line out of my memory - I can hear the guy's voice, even. He pronounces every instance of 'swing' as 'swang', 'swangin'

Ha! Found it! John Anderson

There's a little girl in our neighborhood,
her name is Charlotte Johnson and she's really lookin' good.
I had to go and see her, so I called her on the phone.
I walked over to her house and this was going on:

Her brother was on the sofa, eatin' chocolate pie,
her Mama was in the kitchen cuttin' chicken up to fry.
Her daddy was in the backyard rollin' up a garden hose,
I was on the porch with Charlotte, feelin' love down to my toes...
and we were Swingin', yes we were Swingin'...
Little Charlotte she's as pretty as the angels when they sing,
I can't believe I'm out here on her front porch in this swing,
just-a-swingin,

Yeah, and we'll be swingin, yes, we'll be swinging.
Little Charlotte she's as pretty as the angels when they sang,
I can't believe I'm out here on the front porch in the swang,
just-a-swangin.

Now Charlotte she's the darlin', she's the apple of my eye,
and when I'm on the swang with her it makes me almost high.
And Charlotte is my lover and she has been since the sprang,
I just can't believe it started on her front porch in this swang.

Just a swangin, well just a swangin,
Little Charlotte she's as pretty as the angels when they sang,
I can't believe I'm out here on the front porch in the swang,
just-a-swangin.

I said, Little Charlotte she's as pretty as the angels when they sang,
I can't believe I'm out here on her front porch in the swang,
just-a-swangin.

Subject: RE: BS: Origin and meaning of 'swanging'
From: GUEST,Chief Chaos
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 05:32 PM

Ya'll are jest too gol' darn citified!

Swangin' (at least used 'round these here parts) means neckin on the front porch swing with yer boo.

Swingin' would mean just moving the swing back and forth.

kinda like naked means not having yer clothes on and nekkid means being naked and up to somethin'!