{"product_id":"1855-unpublished-mss-root-hog-or-die-the-american-revolution-and-westward-expansion","title":"1855 UNPUBLISHED MSS. Root Hog or Die - The American Revolution and Westward Expansion.","description":"\u003cp\u003eA very fine piece of unpublished mid-19th century political song.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, \u003cem\u003eThe Indian Hunter\u003c\/em\u003e, 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 The first, however, appears to be completely unpublished.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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn unpublished rollicking, rumpus of American song.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRoot Hog Or Die [c.1855]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCome freman lend an ear\u003cbr\u003eAnd a story Ill relate\u003cbr\u003ebout our struggle for freedom\u003cbr\u003ewhich you've heard I calculate\u003cbr\u003eJohn bull tride to enslave us\u003cbr\u003ebut some was heard to cry\u003cbr\u003eof liberty for yankee boyes\u003cbr\u003erot hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChorus\u003cbr\u003ehurrah three cheers\u003cbr\u003ethe yandees are the boys\u003cbr\u003efor singing or for fiting\u003cbr\u003eor for kicking up a noise\u003cbr\u003ethe hole yankee nation\u003cbr\u003eare keeping up the cry\u003cbr\u003ebig pig little pig root root hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehe first commenced at boston\u003cbr\u003ehis acts of tyranny\u003cbr\u003eby compelling us to pay\u003cbr\u003eheavy taxes on our tea\u003cbr\u003ethe yankees would not stand it\u003cbr\u003ebut quickly they did fly\u003cbr\u003ethen pitched it in the see\u003cbr\u003esinging root hot or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethen johnny bull got wrathy\u003cbr\u003eand swore he would us kill\u003cbr\u003ebut son we sent him flying\u003cbr\u003ewe drove them off so quick\u003cbr\u003ethey could not say good by\u003cbr\u003ebut the yankee boy skep singing out\u003cbr\u003eroot hot or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt yorktown some time after\u003cbr\u003ewith an army good and strong\u003cbr\u003ehe thought that he would conquer\u003cbr\u003ebut johnny bull was rong\u003cbr\u003efor the father of our country\u003cbr\u003egeorge washington did cry\u003cbr\u003ecornwallis give me up your sword\u003cbr\u003eroot hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethen johnny bull went home\u003cbr\u003equite tired of such scenes\u003cbr\u003ebut soon he sent an army\u003cbr\u003eto conquer new orleans\u003cbr\u003eour fort was made of cotten\u003cbr\u003eand packenham did fly\u003cbr\u003ewhile general jackson made him sing\u003cbr\u003eroot hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehe tried to take our vessels\u003cbr\u003ebut didn't stand it sight\u003cbr\u003efor fury on lake erie\u003cbr\u003eshowed them yankee boys cood fite\u003cbr\u003ehe pressed them so well\u003cbr\u003efor quarter they did cry\u003cbr\u003ethe yankee tars made them sing\u003cbr\u003eroot hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003enow the wars ar over\u003cbr\u003epeace rigns throughout the land\u003cbr\u003eacross the broad atlatie\u003cbr\u003ewe extend to them our hand\u003cbr\u003ewe've land and home to give them\u003cbr\u003ebeneth the westeren sky\u003cbr\u003eway out here in kansas\u003cbr\u003ewhere they root hog or die\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Indian Hunter [After Eliza Cook].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 . Let me go to my home that is far distant west\u003cbr\u003eTo the scenes of my youth that I like the best\u003cbr\u003eWhere the tall seeders are and the bright waters flow\u003cbr\u003eWhere my parents will greet me white man let me go\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Let me go [to the spot] where the cataract plays\u003cbr\u003eWhere oft I have sported in my boyish days\u003cbr\u003eThere is my poor mother whose heart will o'erflow\u003cbr\u003eAt the sight of her child oh there let me go\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Let me go to the hills and the vallies so fair\u003cbr\u003eWhere oft I have breathed my own mountain air\u003cbr\u003eAnd there through the forest with quiver and bow\u003cbr\u003eI have chased the wild deer oh there let me go\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Let me go to my father by whose valint side\u003cbr\u003eI have sported so oft in the height of my pride\u003cbr\u003eAnd exulted to conquer the insolent foe\u003cbr\u003eTo my father the cheiftain oh there let me go\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. And oh let me go to my dark eyed maid\u003cbr\u003eWho taught me love beneath the willow shade\u003cbr\u003eWhose heart's lik the fawns and is pure as the snow\u003cbr\u003eAnd she loves her dear Indian to her let me go\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. And oh let me go to my fair forest home\u003cbr\u003eAnd never again will I wish to roam\u003cbr\u003eAnd there let my body in ashes lie low\u003cbr\u003eTo that scene in the forest white man let me go.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Specs Fine Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44196572790820,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0093\/3910\/9435\/files\/05-22-2026SpecsFineBooks-4.jpg?v=1779666627","url":"https:\/\/specsfinebooks.com\/products\/1855-unpublished-mss-root-hog-or-die-the-american-revolution-and-westward-expansion","provider":"Specs Fine Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}