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Topic: "Eat bird or die"
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al-Qa'bong
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3807
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posted 26 September 2005 08:24 PM
"Eat bird or die" reminds me of an old tune. I first knew a 1936 version of it, recorded by by Harlem Hamfats, called Root, Hog, or Die. "Root, hog, or die" means provide for yourself, or go without and die. quote: "Root, Hog, or Die" (1856) Words and Music: anonymous As sung by Ordway's Aeolians1. I'm right from old Virginny wid my pocket full ob news I'm worth twenty shillings right square in my shoes It doesnt make a dif of bitternance to neider you nor I Big pig or little pig Root, hog, or die. CHORUS I'm chief cook and bottlewasher, cap'n ob de waiters; I stand upon my head, When I peel de Apple dumplins. 2. I'se happiest darkee on de top ob de earth I get fat as possom in de time ob de dearth Like a pig in a tate patch dar let me be Way down in old Virginny whar its Root, hog, or die. (CHORUS) 3. De Boston dandies dey look so very grand Old clothes hand me down gloves upon de hand High heel boots boots moustaches round de eye - A perfect sick family ob Root, hog, or die. (CHORUS) 4. De Boston gals dey de beat dem all Dey wear high heel shoes for to make demself's tall If dey dont hab dem de Lor how dey'l cry De boys hab got to get dem or else Root, hog, or die. (CHORUS) 5. De Shanghie coats dey're getting all de go Whar de boys get dem I realy dont know But dey're bound to get dem if dey dont hang too high Or else dey make de Taiors run Root, hog or die. (CHORUS) --------------- ANOTHER VERSION Adapted to the same music. 1. I'll tell you of a story that happened long ago; When the English came to America, I s'pose you all know, They couldn't whip the Yankees, I'll tell you the reason why, Uncle Sam made them sing, Root hog or die. 2. John Bull went to Boston, as you shall plainly see, Forty large ships, loaded clear up with tea, The Yankees wouldn't pay the tea tax, I'll tell the reason why, The Yankee boys made 'em sing, Root hog or die. 3. They first met our armies on the top of Bunker hill, When it came to fighting, I guess they got their fill, The Yankee boys chased them off, I'll tell you the reason why, The Yankee boys made 'em sing, Root hog or die. 4. Then they met our Washington at Yorktown, There the Yankees mowed 'em down like grass from the ground, Old Cornwallis gave up his sword, I'll tell you the reason why, General Washington made 'em sing, Root hog or die. 5. Then they came to Baltimore forty years ago, They tried to take North Point, but found it wouldn't go, The Baltimoreans chased them off, I'll tell you the reason why, The Yankee boys made 'em sing, Root hog or die. 6. Then they marched their armies down to New Orleans, That was the place, I think, that Jackson gave 'em beans, They couldn't take our Cotton bales, I'll tell the reason why, General Jackson made 'em sing, Root hog or die. 7. Now Johnny Bull has been kicking up a fuss, He'd better keep quiet, or he'll surely make it worse, We're bound to have Cuba, I'll tell you the reason why, For Uncle Sam will make 'em sing, Root hog or die.
[ 26 September 2005: Message edited by: al-Qa'bong ]
From: Saskatchistan | Registered: Feb 2003
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Wilf Day
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3276
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posted 02 October 2005 09:55 PM
I'm not making this up: Cajus Julius Caesar candidated in vain.In the Dresden deferred election: quote: The Christian Democrats (CDU) are in the odd position of hoping they do not get too many votes, because under the rules they might then forfeit a seat elsewhere. Even more strangely, the politician at risk is called Cajus Julius Caesar.
Der 54-Jährige kandidierte im Wahlkreis 136, genannt 'Lippe I'. "The 54-year-old candidated in constituency 136, named 'Lippe I'."And here I was blaming the Americans for verbing so many nouns. Apparently it's good Anglo-Saxon practice. Anyway, on election night two weeks ago Cajus Julius Caesar was elected, he thought, as a CDU list candidate in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, having been defeated in Lippe (just west of Hanover) by the SPD man. Just as happened three years ago. But this time Caesar got only the 34th place on the CDU state list. Then, at 2.16 o'clock a.m., came the news "Mr. Caesar is in the Bundestag." He was the last on the North-Rhine/Westphalia list of the CDU. The team of Cajus Caesar drew a deep breath. Four more years in Berlin. A few days later came the letter from the President of the Bundestag: congratulations on being elected to the Bundestag "based on the provisional official final result." But fate has dealt damn few so hard a blow: most likely ("höchstwahrscheinlich") Cajus Julius Caesar rejoiced too soon. "One must face facts", says Cajus Caesar more than one week after the first part of the election: "my seat is gone." The calculation was predictable. The CDU seats are divided mathematically between its state lists. With the new numbers of "party votes" from Dresden the past balance shifts between the CDU votes of the individual states. Will it shift to the Saarland list? Or to the Saxony list, where it will vanish because the CDU won too many local seats in Saxony? Stay tuned for the final official final result.
From: Port Hope, Ontario | Registered: Oct 2002
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