1855 UNPUBLISHED MSS. Root Hog or Die - The American Revolution and Westward Expansion.

A very fine piece of unpublished mid-19th century political song. The lined, bifolium sheet dates to c.1855, the earliest days of Kansas settlement, and contains two complete songs in separate hands. The second, The Indian Hunter, is substantially that of Eliza Cook, with a few minor variations. The first, however, appears to be completely unpublished. It rousingly narrates American self-identity as hard-fighting, can-do folk under the colloquial refrain, "Root Hog or Die," and is worthy of preservation.

The Author, * * * Rowe Junior of Kansas, narrates the entirety of the American fight for freedom, beginning with the American Revolution and up through the War of 1812 and the Battles on Lake Erie of 1813. He describes the then-present situation as peaceable, the same zeal that won the Revolution and the War of 1812 now focused toward Westward settlement, in the authors case, in Kansas. 

An unpublished rollicking, rumpus of American song.

Root Hog Or Die [c.1855]

Come freman lend an ear
And a story Ill relate
bout our struggle for freedom
which you've heard I calculate
John bull tride to enslave us
but some was heard to cry
of liberty for yankee boyes
rot hog or die

Chorus
hurrah three cheers
the yandees are the boys
for singing or for fiting
or for kicking up a noise
the hole yankee nation
are keeping up the cry
big pig little pig root root hog or die

he first commenced at boston
his acts of tyranny
by compelling us to pay
heavy taxes on our tea
the yankees would not stand it
but quickly they did fly
then pitched it in the see
singing root hot or die

then johnny bull got wrathy
and swore he would us kill
but son we sent him flying
we drove them off so quick
they could not say good by
but the yankee boy skep singing out
root hot or die

At yorktown some time after
with an army good and strong
he thought that he would conquer
but johnny bull was rong
for the father of our country
george washington did cry
cornwallis give me up your sword
root hog or die

then johnny bull went home
quite tired of such scenes
but soon he sent an army
to conquer new orleans
our fort was made of cotten
and packenham did fly
while general jackson made him sing
root hog or die

he tried to take our vessels
but didn't stand it sight
for fury on lake erie
showed them yankee boys cood fite
he pressed them so well
for quarter they did cry
the yankee tars made them sing
root hog or die

now the wars ar over
peace rigns throughout the land
across the broad atlatie
we extend to them our hand
we've land and home to give them
beneth the westeren sky
way out here in kansas
where they root hog or die

 

The second:

The Indian Hunter [After Eliza Cook].

1 . Let me go to my home that is far distant west
To the scenes of my youth that I like the best
Where the tall seeders are and the bright waters flow
Where my parents will greet me white man let me go

2. Let me go [to the spot] where the cataract plays
Where oft I have sported in my boyish days
There is my poor mother whose heart will o'erflow
At the sight of her child oh there let me go

3. Let me go to the hills and the vallies so fair
Where oft I have breathed my own mountain air
And there through the forest with quiver and bow
I have chased the wild deer oh there let me go

4. Let me go to my father by whose valint side
I have sported so oft in the height of my pride
And exulted to conquer the insolent foe
To my father the cheiftain oh there let me go

5. And oh let me go to my dark eyed maid
Who taught me love beneath the willow shade
Whose heart's lik the fawns and is pure as the snow
And she loves her dear Indian to her let me go

6. And oh let me go to my fair forest home
And never again will I wish to roam
And there let my body in ashes lie low
To that scene in the forest white man let me go.