Hoosen Johnny

Subject: Hoosen Johnny
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:03 AM

Any info on what Hoosen means?
Thanks in advance-

Subject: RE: Hoosen Johnny
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 12:25 AM

You might want to take a look in THIS THREAD, apparently in one version it was "Houston, Sam Houston" so maybe Hoosen is a derivative of that?

Subject: RE: Hoosen Johnny
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 06:40 PM

I think that Sandburg says that it means a hobo. I wondered if it was related to the term Hoosier (Indiana). Sandburg says that it was one of Lincoln's favorite songs.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Hoosen Johnny
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 09:07 PM

In the thread linked by katlaughing may be found the original minstrel song by Dan Rice, title "Long Time Ago." The line was 'Cousin John, hussa.' Christy's Nigga Songster," c. 1850.
I believe the word was meaningless filler to finish off the line.

Subject: RE: Hoosen Johnny
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:40 PM

A long time ago, probably in Sam's day, Houston was pronounced like it still is in New York City-- "House - ton" --making it seem less likely that Texas connection via the pronunciation.

SRS