Root hog, or die

"Root hog, or die" is a common American catch-phrase dating from well before 1834. [Crockett, "A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett", p. 117-118: "We know'd that nothing more could happen to us if we went than if we staid, for it looked like it was to be starvation any way; we therefore determined to go on the old saying, root hog or die."] Coming from the early colonial practice of turning pigs loose in the woods to fend for themselves, the term is an invective for self-reliance.

ongs

The term resulted in several songs with the same theme.

"Root Hog Or Die" (c. 1854)

Several songs of unknown authorship were published before the Civil War, including patriotic and minstrel songs. A patriotic version opens with: [—, "Root Hog or Die" (Broadside).] :"I'll tell you a story that happened long ago,"::"When the English came to America, I s'pose you all know,":"They could'nt whip the Yankees, I'll tell you the reason why,'::"Uncle Same made 'em sing Root Hog or Die."

"Root, Hog, or Die" (1856)

The most popular song of the era was a minstrel song variously titled "Root, Hog, Or Die" or "Do Jog Along", sometimes credited to George W.H. Griffin, which was first copyrighted in 1856. [Griffin, "Do Jog Along" (Sheet music).] Many variations exist—a common first verse is::"I'm right from old Virginny wid my pocket full ob news,":"I'm worth twenty shillings right square in my shoes.":"It doesn't make a bit of differance to neider you nor I":"Big pig or little pig, Root, hog, or die."

"Root Hog Or Die" (1858)

A song from the gold field camps on the front range of the Rockies written by G.W.H. Griffin in 1858 addressed the hardships of goldminers. The first verse: [Davidson, "Poems of the Old West", pp. 16-17: "A.O. McGrew is reported to have presented the following at Denver's first Christmas celebration, in 1858."] :"Way out upon the Platte near Pike's Peak we were told":"There by a little digging we could get a pile of gold,":"So we bundled up our clothing, resolved at least to try":"And tempt old Madam Fortune, root hog or die."

Civil War songs

Both sides in the Civil War had "root, hog, or die" songs. A verse from "Flight of Doodles", a Confederate song, is typical: [Moore, "Rebel Rhymes and Rhapsodies", p. 86-89,] :"I saw Texas go in with a smile,":"But I tell you what it is, she made the Yankees bile;":"Oh! it don't make a nif-a-stifference to neither you nor I,":"Texas is the devil, boys; root, hog, or die."

"A Philosophical Cowboy"

A folk song collected in 1911 tells of the hard life of the cowboy. The last verse is: [Fife & Fife, "Cowboy and Western Songs".] :"Sometimes it's dreadful stormy and sometimes it's pretty clear":"You may work a month and you might work a year":"But you can make a winning if you'll come alive and try":"For the whole world over, boys, it's root hog or die."

This version, and variations of it, are still recorded.

References

Bibliography

*—. "Root Hog or Die" (broadside). Philadelphia: J.H. Johnson (c. 1854).
*Crockett, David. "A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett of the State of Tennessee". Philadelphia: E.L. Carey and A. Hart (1834).
*Davidson, Levette Jay. "Poems of the Old West: A Rocky Mountain Anthology". Manchester, NH: Ayer Company Publishers (Facsimile edition, 1951).
*Fife, Austin E., and Alta S. Fife. "Cowboy and Western Songs: A Comprehensive Anthology." New York: C. N. Potter (1969).
*Griffin, G.W.H. "Do Jog Along" (Sheet music). New York: E.A. Daggett (1856).
*Moore, Frank (ed.). "Rebel Rhymes and Rhapsodies". New York: George P. Putnam (1864).