Root Hog Or Die Meaning

"Root hog or dice" is a common American take hold of-phrase dating at least to the early on 1800s. Coming from the early on colonial exercise of turning pigs loose in the forest to fend for themselves, the term is an idiomatic expression for self-reliance.

The word "root" is used as an imperative verb, every bit is "die". The phrase (sometimes rendered with commas afterward root and pig) can exist parsed as, "Root (search for roots to eat), sus scrofa, or [you will] dice."

Early examples of use [edit]

1829: "In Ohio, they accept a vulgar saying which runs thus—"Root, squealer, or die." Information technology is unremarkably spread in staring capitals amid idlers and it is said oftentimes has an admirable upshot in promoting habits of industry." —Vermont Gazette (March 17, 1829)^[ane]
1834: "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 whatever mode; we therefore determined to proceed the one-time saying, root, sus scrofa or dice." —Davy Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee. ^[2]

Songs [edit]

The term resulted in several songs with the same theme.

"Root Hog or Die" (c. 1854) [edit]

Several songs of unknown authorship were published earlier the Civil War, including patriotic and minstrel songs. A patriotic version opens with:^[three]

I'll tell you lot a story that happened long ago,

When the English language came to America, I southward'pose you lot all know,

They could'nt [sic] whip the Yankees, I'll tell y'all the reason why,

Uncle Sam made 'em Root Hog or Die.

"Root, Hog, or Die" (1856) [edit]

The most popular song of the era was a minstrel song variously titled "Root, Pig, Or Die" or "Do Jog Along", sometimes credited to George W.H. Griffin, which was kickoff copyrighted in 1856.^[4] Many variations exist—a common kickoff poesy is:

I'1000 right from former Virginny wid my pocket total ob news,

I'yard worth xx shillings correct square in my shoes.

'Information technology doesn't make a bit of departure to neither you nor I

Big pig or little hog, Root, grunter, or die.

"Root Grunter or Die" (1858) [edit]

A song from the gold field camps on the front range of the Rockies written by A. O. McGrew in 1858 addressed the hardships of gilt miners. It was showtime sung at a Christmas party near nowadays-day Denver. The starting time verse:^[v]

Way out upon the Platte near Pike's Acme nosotros were told

There by a little earthworks we could get a pile of gilt,

So we arranged up our clothing, resolved at least to try

And tempt old Madam Fortune, root grunter or die.

Ceremonious War songs [edit]

Both sides in the Civil War had root, grunter, or die songs. A verse from "Flying of Doodles", a Confederate song, is typical:^[six]

I saw Texas go in with a smiling,

Merely I tell you what it is, she made the Yankees bile;

Oh! it don't brand a nif-a-stifference to neither you nor I,

Texas is the devil, boys; root, hog, or die.

"A Philosophical Cowboy" [edit]

A folk song nerveless in 1911 tells of the difficult life of the cowboy. The last poetry is:^[7]

Sometimes it's dreadful stormy and sometimes it'southward pretty articulate

You lot may work a calendar month and you might work a year

But you can make a winning if yous'll come live and try

For the whole world over, boys, it's root hog or die.

This version, and variations of it, are however recorded.^{[ citation needed ]}

Newer versions have too been recorded.

Woody Guthrie recorded a version "Root, Pig & Dice" about the trial of Sacco & Vanzetti, changing the narrative to that of a man racing to get to Boston before their scheduled execution in 1927.

Root, hog and dice friend, Root, hog & die

Gotta get to Boston, Root, pig & die

Sacco & Vanzetti dice at sundown tonight

Then I gotta get to Boston, Root, sus scrofa & die

June Carter Cash had a minor hit in 1950 with her version,^[8] now available on YouTube with guitar by Chet Atkins.^[nine] The kickoff verse is equally follows:

When I was young and pretty

With a twinkling in my center

I met a traveling man one day

And I approximate he told a lie

When nosotros was a courting

He chosen me sugar pie

Now he calls me other names

Information technology's root, hog, or die

Root, pig, or dice

Tell you the reason why

I met a traveling man ane twenty-four hour period

And I guess he told a lie^[10]

References [edit]

^ "Varieties". Vermont Gazette. Vol. XX, no. xiv. 17 March 1829. p. one. Retrieved twenty May 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Crockett, Davy (1834). A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee. Philadelphia: East. 50. Carey and A. Hart. pp. 117–118. OCLC 1049883312.
^ —, "Root Hog or Die" (Broadside).
^ Griffin, "Do Jog Along" (Canvas music).
^ Davidson, Poems of the Old West, pp. xvi-17: "A.O. McGrew is reported to have presented the post-obit at Denver's first Christmas commemoration, in 1858."
^ Moore, Rebel Rhymes and Rhapsodies, p. 86-89,
^ Fife & Fife, Cowboy and Western Songs.
^ "June Carter With The Carter Sisters And Mother Maybelle* - The Baldheaded Terminate Of The Broom / Root, Hog Or Die". Discogs.com . Retrieved 5 November 2017.
^ MAYFLY01 (9 April 2011). "June Carter Cash - Root, Hog, Or Dice". YouTube. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
^ "Wowlyrics.com". Wowlyrics.com . Retrieved 5 Nov 2017.

Bibliography [edit]

—. "Root Sus scrofa 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: East.L. Carey and A. Hart (1834).
Davidson, Levette Jay. Poems of the Old West: A Rocky Mountain Anthology. Manchester, NH: Ayer Visitor Publishers (Facsimile edition, 1951).
Fife, Austin E., and Alta S. Fife. Cowboy and Western Songs: A Comprehensive Anthology. New York: C. N. Potter (1969). ISBN 9780517387689
Griffin, K.Due west.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).