Owen "Snake" ChapmanDEVIL EAT THE GROUNDHOG. AKA - "Devil Ate the Groundhog." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Kentucky. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg, Titon): AA'B (Phillips). Source Owen Chapman, who learned the tune from his father, George "Doc" Chapman (b. circa 1850) says it was inspired by a hunter who had a lapse and left his skinned day's hunt in the same room with his dog, according to Jeff Titon (2001). When he returned he found the dog had devoured the game, leaving the hunter to vexedly sing:
God almighty damned dog (x3) The Devil's eat the groundhog.
Vance Randolph collected a title in the Ozarks called "Devil Wants a Woodchuck" that is perhaps this tune.
Additional notes Source for notated version : - Owen "Snake" Chapman (Whitesburg, Letcher County, Ky., 1990) [Devil's Box, Phillips, Titon]; Scott Marckx [Silberberg].
Printed sources : - Stephen F. Davis (Devil's Box), vol. 28, No. 2, Summer 1994; p. 28. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 68. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 34. Titon (Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 33, p. 67.
Recorded sources : - June Appal 0061, Owen "Snake" Chapman - "Fiddle Ditty" (1990). Rounder CD 0378, Snake Chapman - "Up in Chapman's Hollow" (1996). Rounder 0409, Paul Smith - "Devil Eat the Groundhog." Rounder Heritage Series 1166-11592-2, Paul Smith (et al) - "The Art of Traditional Fiddle" (2001. Learned from Snake Chapman). 5 String Productions 5SP05002, The Hoover Uprights - "Known for their Reputation" (2005).
See also listing at : Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1].
Hear Owen Chapman's recording at Slippery Hill [2]
