Hurley's debut album, First Songs, was recorded for Folkways Records in 1965 on the same reel-to-reel machine that taped Leadbelly's Last Sessions. He was "discovered" by blues and jazz historian Frederick Ramsey III, and subsequently championed by boyhood friend Jesse Colin Young, who released his 2nd & 3rd albums on The Youngbloods' Warner Bros. imprint, Raccoon. In the late 70's, Hurley made three albums for Rounder, all of which have since been reissued on CD. His 1976 LP Have Moicy, a collaboration with the Unholy Modal Rounders and Jeffrey Frederick & The Clamtones, was named "the greatest folk album of the rock era" by the Village Voice's Robert Christgau.
In 1996, Koch Records released Wolfways with Hurley backed by Mickey Bones - Drums, Gus Ziesing - percussion, Jill Gross - Harmony Vocals, Jim Harvey - Trombone, Dan Archer and Bob Jordan - Guitars and Mike Boise - Bass. Tours with Son Volt and high praise from younger performers like Lucinda Williams, Vic Chesnutt, Calexico, Cat Power and Robin Holcomb followed.
Greg Weeks of Espers noted in an eBay auction in July 2006 that the band has begun work on a collaborative album with Hurley.
Gnomonsong released the Michael Hurley album titled "Ancestral Swamp" on September 18, 2007. Backing was provided by longtime Hurley associate David Reisch of the Holy Modal Rounders and new friends Tara Jane O'Neil and Lewi Longmire.
In 2021 Hurley released "The Time of the Foxgloves".
Hog Of The Forsaken
Michael Hurley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
got no reason to cry
he got to chew the angels
fallen from on high
he ain't waitin' for no answer
bakin' woeful pie
pie of eyesight, pie blue-black
whoa that pie, the pie of bye-n-bye
well, he ain't like you and I
with bones always breakin'
an' no place to go an' lie
he sit in the bog so dark and wet
he got so much time
he ain't even worried yet
The Hog of the Forsaken
he is the pork of crime
The lyrics of Michael Hurley's song, "Hog of the Forsaken," seem to be centered on the singer's description of a specific character, The Hog of the Forsaken. As the song goes on, the listener gets to understand more about The Hog of the Forsaken and the characteristics that make him stand out from other characters. As the song opens, the listener gets the impression that The Hog of the Forsaken has nothing to be sad about because he has something unique to chew on: chew the angels that fell from heaven. This gives the listener an impression that The Hog of the Forsaken is a devilish character.
The song proceeds to describe how he bakes woeful pie, a pie of eyesight, and a pie blue/black, which is the pie of "bye-n-bye." The Hog of the Forsaken is portrayed as a character who is different from others because he has no bones always breaking, and he has no place to go and lie down. Instead, he sits in a bog, which is dark and wet. Somewhat ironically, he appears not to be worried, even though he is The Hog of the Forsaken, referred to as the pork of crime in the last line of the song, which further paints him as a character on the opposite side of morality.
Line by Line Meaning
an' The Hog of the Forsaken
Introducing the main character of the song, The Hog of the Forsaken
got no reason to cry
The Hog has no reason to feel sorrow
he got to chew the angels
He consumed the fallen angels
fallen from on high
The angels came from heaven
he ain't waitin' for no answer
The Hog isn't waiting for anyone to explain the reason for his existence
bakin' woeful pie
He is creating a pastry linked with sadness
pie of eyesight, pie blue-black
The pie is dark in color and related to vision
whoa that pie, the pie of bye-n-bye
The pie relates to death and final goodbyes
an' The Hog of the Forsaken
Reintroducing the Hog
well, he ain't like you and I
The Hog is different from other living beings
with bones always breakin'
The Hog's bones are fragile and keep breaking easily
an' no place to go an' lie
The Hog has nowhere to go and rest
he sit in the bog so dark and wet
The Hog is sitting in a damp, dark swamp
he got so much time
The Hog has all the time in the world
he ain't even worried yet
He isn't even concerned about anything yet
The Hog of the Forsaken
Reiterating who the song is about
he is the pork of crime
The Hog is associated with sin or wrongdoing by being the 'pork' of crime
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL HURLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fayder743
Here's the FULL LYRICS to this version of Hog of the Foresaken including all four verses. I never heard this song with the final fourth verse in I and I needed to find out exactly what is being sang there. Decided to share since I couldn't find It here on YouTube.
And the Hog of the Forsaken got no reason to cry,
He got to chew the angels fallin' from on hiiigh,
He ain't waitin' for no answers, bakin' woeful pie,
Pie of eyesight, pie boot-black, oh that pie,
The pie of by-and-by.
And the Hog of the Forsaken he ain't like you and I,
With bones always breakin' and no place to go an' lie,
He's in the box so dark and wet, he got so much time,
He ain't even worried yet, the Hog of the Forsaken,
He is the Pork of Crime.
And the Hog of the Forsaken, he'll leave you one more chance,
Which, if you won't be takin' he'll leave it for the ants,
He sings out in the wilderness, he sings of friend and foe,
He sings of these and those times as well as the times to go.
And the Hog of the Forsaken he swims out into the sea,
Finds the alligator gar chase the leapin' mullet,
And chokes the water hyacinth flowin' to the sea,
The Hog of the Forsaken, he is the hog for me!
He chokes the water hyacinth flowin' to the sea,
The Hog of the Forsaken, he is the hog for me!
(yeah baby, that's right)
@lawrencebullock5641
Hog of the Forsaken
Michael Hurley
An' The Hog of the Forsaken
Got no reason to cry
He got to chew the angels
Fallen from on high
He ain't waitin' for no answer
Bakin' woeful pie
Pie of eyesight, pie blue-black
Whoa that pie, the pie of bye-n-bye
An' The Hog of the Forsaken
Well, he ain't like you and I
With bones always breakin'
An' no place to go an' lie
He sit in the bog so dark and wet
He got so much time
He ain't even worried yet
The Hog of the Forsaken
He is the pork of crime
@callofthewillman4469
One the most amazing songs in Human History!!!!!!
@christopherjohnson4935
Perfect final song for Deadwood.
@jon4715
It was also the song that ended the first episode.
@claudiaraab1739
Kudos to whoever chose this song to end the DW movie. I was crying my eyes out! Michael Hurley has always been the greatest and most original!
@AllG98
Claudia Raab they also use this at end of the first episode, so it’s doubly fitting!
@zx713
All G and episode of 10 of season 1.
@darthmusturd9526
Which movie?
@GamerCall
@@darthmusturd9526 Deadwood.
@gr0gify
I am from France and I fell in love with this song.
@jbl4077
Thank you Deadwood for introducing me to Michael Hurley.