The Arkansas in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Civil War song
In Response To: Re: Civil War song ()

Anthony
With all the help I have received this is what I have come up with. "Root Hog Or Die" was and old saying that came about by farmers turning their hogs loose to eat acorns or whatever they could forage to save the farmer from feeding them thus "root hog or die". Now to the song "ROOT HOG OR DIE" it was a traditional folk song. It was sang and enjoyed by many early frontiersmen heading west, of which the likes included David Crockett. In his writings of 1834 he mentions "root hog or die" (fend for yourself or die). By the 1850's it had become so popular, it was played and sang in parlors, in minstrel shows and on stage as political satire in so many different versions. One sheet music title page from this era was noted: ROOT HOG OR DIE! No 2 Composed and Sung with Unbound Applause by RICHARD J. McGOWAN, the World Renowned Champion Banjoist.
At the start of the Civil War there were northern and southern versions of the song. During the early years of the war, confederate units adapted versions to fit their situations and state pride, as they trained and drilled to meet their yankee foe. Even the cowboys picked up on it after the war.
The simple melody of the song was often played on a tin whistle or fife, more refined versions were played on banjos, fiddles, pianos and other instruments. I have seen many sheet music versions of which most are not politically correct by todays standards.
"ROOT HOG OR DIE" was a traditional folk song whose wartime meaning was to fight hard or die trying. It must have been a #1 tune on many charts during the Civil War, along with LORENA of course, but that's another story.
All I can say is thanks for all the help from the Message Board on this subject. R.D. Keever

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