Ground Hog
The Watson Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, groundhog.
Run here Sally with a ten foot pole, (repeat)
To twist that whistle-pig out of his hole.
Oh, groundhog.
Here comes Sal with a snicker and a grin, (repeat)
Groundhog gravy all over her chin.
Oh, groundhog.
Eat that hog before he's cooked or biled.
Oh, groundhog.
I dug down but I didn't dig deep, (repeat)
There laid a whistle-pig fast asleep.
Oh, groundhog.
Now the meat's in the cupboard and the butter's in the churn, (repeat)
If that ain't groundhog I'll be derned.
Oh, groundhog.
Well you eat the meat and save the hide, (repeat)
Make the best shoestring ever was tied.
Oh, groundhog.
Look at them fellers, they're about to fall, (repeat)
Eat till their britches won't button at all.
Oh, groundhog.
Little piece of cornbread a-layin' on the shelf, (repeat)
If you want any more, you can sing it yerself.
Oh, groundhog.
The Watson Family's song "Ground Hog" is a folk tune that highlights the practice of catching a groundhog. The song has a simple yet catchy melody with repetitive lyrics that make it fun to sing along to. The song starts with a group of people who go to the woods to catch a groundhog. One of the persons, Sally, comes with a ten-foot pole used to twist the groundhog out of its hole. The lines "Look at them fellers, they're a-goin' wild, Eat that hog before he's cooked or biled" highlight the excitement and urgency of catching the groundhog.
The song also depicts the joy in catching a groundhog and enjoying its meat. The line "Groundhog gravy all over her chin" shows how much the characters enjoyed eating the groundhog. The lyrics also touch on the importance of utilizing all parts of the acquired meat. The lines "Well, you eat the meat and save the hide, Make the best shoestring ever was tied" show how resourceful people were when it came to using every part of the animal.
Overall, the song "Ground Hog" is a lively song that represents the folk practices of catching a groundhog as a delicacy. The song is an excellent representation of traditional folk music and highlights the importance of being resourceful and utilizing all parts of the acquired meat.
Line by Line Meaning
Off to the woods for to catch a groundhog.
We are heading to the woods to catch a groundhog.
Oh, groundhog.
Repeating the name of the prey we are hunting.
Run here Sally with a ten foot pole, (repeat)
To twist that whistle-pig out of his hole.
Calling for Sally to bring a pole to catch the groundhog by twisting it out of its hole.
Here comes Sal with a snicker and a grin, (repeat)
Groundhog gravy all over her chin.
Sally arrives with a smirk and a smile, having caught and prepared the groundhog for eating.
Look at them fellers, they're a-goin' wild, (repeat)
Eat that hog before he's cooked or biled.
The hunters are excited and eager to eat the groundhog, even before it's been fully cooked.
I dug down but I didn't dig deep, (repeat)
There laid a whistle-pig fast asleep.
When digging for the groundhog, it was nearer to the surface than expected, already asleep in its burrow.
Now the meat's in the cupboard and the butter's in the churn, (repeat)
If that ain't groundhog I'll be derned.
The caught groundhog has been processed into meat, and if it's not easily recognizable as such, then it must be something else entirely.
Well you eat the meat and save the hide, (repeat)
Make the best shoestring ever was tied.
The hunters plan to use all parts of the groundhog, including the hide for making shoestrings.
Look at them fellers, they're about to fall, (repeat)
Eat till their britches won't button at all.
The hunters are so full from eating the groundhog that they are about to collapse and their clothes can barely contain their full stomachs.
Little piece of cornbread a-layin' on the shelf, (repeat)
If you want any more, you can sing it yerself.
There's only a small portion of cornbread left, and if anyone wants more food they'll have to make it themselves.
Oh, groundhog.
Repeating the name of the hunted animal once more to end the song.
Contributed by Makayla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@masterbardjudith
Shoulder up your gun and whistle up your dog.
Off to the woods for to catch a groundhog.
Oh, groundhog.
Run here Sally with a ten foot pole, (repeat)
To twist that whistle-pig out of his hole.
Oh, groundhog.
Here comes Sal with a snicker and a grin, (repeat)
Groundhog gravy all over her chin.
Oh, groundhog.
Look at them fellers, they're a-goin' wild, (repeat)
Eat that hog before he's cooked or biled.
Oh, groundhog.
I dug down but I didn't dig deep, (repeat)
There laid a whistle-pig fast asleep.
Oh, groundhog.
Now the meat's in the cupboard and the butter's in the churn, (repeat)
If that ain't groundhog I'll be durned,
Oh, groundhog.
Well you eat up the meat and save the hide, (repeat)
Make the best shoestring ever was tied.
Oh, groundhog.
Look at them fellers, they're about to fall, (repeat)
Eat till their britches won't button at all.
Oh, groundhog.
Little piece of cornbread a-layin' on the shelf, (repeat)
If you want any more, you can sing it yerself.
Oh, groundhog.
@trnrbrnr
I found this on a 1960s era ecord at the local library about 40 years ago and I’ve loved it ever since.
@gayledailey162
My dad played a juice harp and sang this with joy. As a boy with a traveling daddy, he helped feed his family squirrel and groundhog. A successful grocer, he still hunted but not pig. He found an orphaned baby and brought her home for mother to care for. He named her Jessie and she came when he called her. We fed her for two years till she head the call of nature and took off.
@bayareasparky9180
Billy Strings played this last night (2/23/24) at his show in Nashville with Bela Fleck. Billy's playing a few dates at Bridgestone Arena.
@annwelty5812
I miss hearing music like this...such awesome voices with a lot to say. Thank goodness for those who preserve it and those who performed them.
@SharonLippincott
A group of friends and I performed this song our senior year during Topper Review at Los Alamos High School in 1962. Hearing this now triggers an avalanche of fond memories of YOUTH, good times, and good friends. So glad to find it.
@raincitybreakers804
that's fantastic! How much fun is this music? I am of a younger stock but also grew up to this sort of music. Do you play an instrument? Music is medicine for everything
@skinupfast
finger on the trigger, eye on the hog..... damn it, so good... thanks an regards from germany
@mountainspring1703
Doc's always the BEST!
@IchigoHime7
love love LOVE this song so much!!!! <3 <3
@artifactman660
I love this song! well done thanks for posting