The Mormon Pioneers: The Quest (Songbook) (1977),
6
Root Hog or Die
Root Hog or Die
1. Oh, I’m a jolly driver on the Salt Lake City line;And I can lick the rascal that yokes an ox of mine;He’d better turn ’em out, or you bet your life I’d tryTo maul him with an oxbow Root hog or die.
2. Oh, I’ll tell you how it is when you first get on the road,You’ve got an awkward team and a very heavy load;You’ve got to whip and holler, if you swear it’s on the sly,A bunch of teams along, boys – Root hog or die.
3. Oh, times on Bitter Creek they never can be beat,“Root hog or die” is on every wagon seat;The sand within your throat, the dust within your eye;Bend your back and stand it too – Root hog or die.
4. When we arrived in Salt Lake the twenty-fifth of JulyThe people were surprised to see us come so soon,But we are bold bullwhackers on whom you can rely,We’re tough and we can stand it too – Root hog or die.
