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sugarinthegourd - Posted - 01/06/2024: 12:02:17
Referring to the Archived topic here fiddlehangout.com/archive/51121 which mentions the infamous “Hold Old Bald” site. Being familiar with Prof Malchapeau’s character and output, I wouldn’t put too much stock in it generally, but he may have gotten it right with this one.
The attached image is from the following source:
Negro Tales of John Kendry from Indianapolis
Author(s): Butler H. Waugh
Source: Midwest Folklore, Autumn, 1958, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Autumn, 1958), pp. 125-141
Published by: Indiana University Press
Stable URL: jstor.org/stable/4317730
Edited by - sugarinthegourd on 01/06/2024 12:03:48
sugarinthegourd - Posted - 01/06/2024: 12:10:57
And there is also this story from Ed Haley’s son, which was included on the Grey Eagle album.
Edited by - sugarinthegourd on 01/06/2024 12:11:16
DougD - Posted - 01/06/2024: 12:31:29
Yes, and this similar account has been posted here at least once, but still people seem to prefer their spurious urban legend! clawhammerbanjo.net/clawhammer...the-fire/
A mysterious aside: In the index to Thomas Talley's "Negro Folk Rhymes," published in 1922, there's an entry for "Push the hogs feet under the bed," but no page number, and I've never found it in the book!
Edited by - DougD on 01/06/2024 12:33:01
sugarinthegourd - Posted - 01/06/2024: 14:37:24
Doug, I saw that too. Isn’t that frustrating? I didn’t see another entry lacking a page number, just that one!
pete_fiddle - Posted - 01/07/2024: 01:41:43
I think "Shove that pigs foot a little further in the fire", refers to tempering the tip of a "Pry bar", "Pigs foot" or "Crow bar". Which was/is? used by the railway gangs ("Gandy dancers"), to remove rail ties and lever the rails back into line. So that the tip doesn't break due to work hardening etc.
Apparently just the very tip is hardened in a fire, so that it remains sharp. But the rest of the bar must be left so the foot doesn't snap off. This would require at least one of the gang to be watching the bar and "shoving" it in, or taking it out of the fire until it was the right colour. Then quenching it, or air cooling it as required.
groundhogpeggy - Posted - 01/07/2024: 04:59:47
It could make it less confusing and baffling if we updated the name to 21st century folk life: something like, "Shove your thumb right there into that order button for Grub Hub to bring us bbque pork on a bun, and hand me my fiddle." That way it makes sense to our time and we know people in the next century will muse and puzzle over it while they fiddle it.
pete_fiddle - Posted - 01/07/2024: 08:13:39
quote:
Originally posted by groundhogpeggy
It could make it less confusing and baffling if we updated the name to 21st century folk life: something like, "Shove your thumb right there into that order button for Grub Hub to bring us bbque pork on a bun, and hand me my fiddle." That way it makes sense to our time and we know people in the next century will muse and puzzle over it while they fiddle it.
Well, i had to google "Grub Hub".... Do people use that, rather than cooking it themselves.... And maybe having a tune around the bbq. Whilst tempering their Pigs Foot, for another day's gandy dancing in the morning?
Shawn Craver Fiddler - Posted - 01/07/2024: 14:29:36
Recently noticed the the first part to "Pig's Foot" is the same melody to the English folk song "O for me grog..."
DougD - Posted - 01/08/2024: 08:52:45
Shawn - Knowing both melodies, I'd say they're somewhat similar, but not quite the same. However, whenever I hear "Pigsfoot" (not often around here) it reminds me of some song I can't quite place, especially the second phrase. The closest I can come is the song "Go in and out the window."
Shawn Craver Fiddler - Posted - 01/08/2024: 09:46:42
After listening to them both again, I'd agree... similar but not the same. I don't really know Pig's Foot. Wasn't played in the jams I used to go to.
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