Bill Grogan's Goat

(a.k.a. "Old Hogan's Goat" or "Bill Groggin's Goat")

Words & Music:

Traditional English

I thought this tune was a traditional American one, but then I came across two versions I had acquired over the years (see attached easy arrangements) - one entitled "Old Hogan's Goat" and the other entitled "Bill Groggin's Goat". These make me think that this was an English tune. The first version given is the one I learned as a kid down South. The additional verses come from the other arrangements.

CALL: RESPONSE:

Bill Grogan's goat Bill Grogan's goat

Was feeling fine. Was feeling fine.

Ate three red shirts Ate three red shirts

From off the line. From off the line.

CONTINUE CALL & RESPONSE FOR EACH HALF-LINE:

Bill Grogan came and beat his back.

And tied him to the railroad track.

The whistle blew, the train drew nigh.

Bill Grogan's goat was doomed to die. [alt: "...was bound to die"]

Bill's goat, he was in mortal pain,

Coughed up the shirts and flagged the train!

OTHER VERSES:

There was a man, now please take note:

There was a man who had a goat.

He loved that goat, indeed he did.

He loved that goat just like a kid.

One day that goat felt frisk & fine; [alt: "One day that goat was feeling fine"]

Ate three red shirts right off the line.

The man, he grabbed him by the back [alt: "His master came & beat his back."]

And tied him to the railroad track.

Now, when that train hove into sight,

That goat grew pale & green with fright.

He heaved a sigh, as if in pain,

Coughed up the shirts & flagged the train!

OR:

The whistle blew, the train drew nigh.

The poor goat knew that he must die.

He gave three shrieks of mortal pain,

Coughed up the shirts & flagged the train!

The provenance of this attached easy arrangement and this attached easy arrangement is unknown. It is part of a collection that people gave me over the years. Please inform me if correctly attribute it.