Grateful Dead Family Discography: Hold The Woodpile Down

Hold The Woodpile Down

Composer: Traditional

Hold The Woodpile Downwas performed by the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers in San Carlos on June 11th 1962. The Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers were a trio formed by Jerry Garcia, Marshall Leicester and Dick Arnold in May 1962.

The chorus of this song appears to be derived from that of the earlier songs Haul The Woodpile Down or Roll The Woodpile Down which are sea shanties or river boat songs. It is possible that Uncle Dave Macon adapted the earlier work songs.

Hold The Woodpile Down occurs as Hold That Woodpile Down on some recordings.

Jerry Garcia recordings

Before The Dead, Jerry Garcia, 2018

Other recordings

no info Single (Carve That Possum / Hold That Wood-Pile Down), Uncle Dave Macon & His Fruit Jar Drinkers, 1927 (Vocalion 5151)
The New Lost City Ramblers, Vol. 3, The New Lost City Ramblers, 1961
Uncle Dave Macon, Uncle Dave Macon, 1963
The Dixie Dewdrop, Uncle Dave Macon, 1971?
Doc Watson On Stage, Doc Watson & Merle Watson, 1971
Go 'Long Mule (LP), Uncle Dave Macon, 1976?
no info Pace Yourself, P.T. Gazell, 1990
Go 'Long Mule (CD), Uncle Dave Macon, 1995
no info Glad Reunion Day, Larry Perkins, 1999
no info American Roots: A History of American Folk Music, Various Artists (Uncle Dave Macon), 2000
Bluegrass Bonanza, Various Artists (Uncle Dave Macon), 2001
no info Bluegrass Bonanza: String Band Roots, 1927-1938, Various Artists (Uncle Dave Macon), 2001
no info Live in 1965, The Holy Modal Rounders, 2003
no info Real Live American Music, Celebrated Renaissance Band, 2003
no info Love Storm, Whiskey Puppy, 2003
Classic Sides 1924-1938, Uncle Dave Macon, 2004
Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy, Uncle Dave Macon, 2004
Old Mountain: Stringband Songs & Tunes, Various Artists (Uncle Dave Macon), 2004
no info Down in Caroline, Curly Seckler, 2005
no info The Forge Mountain Diggers, The Forge Mountain Diggers, 2006
no info Land of the Sky, Down Trodden String Band, 2007
no info Vintage Bluegrass Masters, Various Artists (Uncle Dave Macon), 2007

Lyrics

The lyrics of the Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers version are;

Went to town the other night,
Hold the woodpile down,
Heard a little noise, sound like a fight,
Hold the woodpile down,
Police running, jumping all around,
Hold the woodpile down,
All the moonshiners come to town,
Hold the woodpile down.
(Chorus)
And I was rambling, rambling,
As long as the world goes round,
The backyard shine on the Georgia line,
Hold the woodpile down.
Saw my love the other night,
Hold the woodpile down,
Everything's wrong and nothing was right,
Hold the woodpile down,
Give a little kiss to make her happy,
Hold the woodpile down,
Make a little love, in walks her pappy,
Hold the woodpile down.
Chorus...
Storekeeper swallowed a nickel one day,
Hold the woodpile down,
Well it was crazy I would say,
Hold the woodpile down,
Folks 'll tell you what it's about,
Hold the woodpile down,
Oh he's a nickel in and a nickel out,
Hold the woodpile down.
Chorus...
Down the packing house, stole a ham,
Hold the woodpile down,
Oh folks don't know how bad I am,
Hold the woodpile down,
Took it home and put it on a shelf,
Hold the woodpile down,
Oh I'm so bad I'm scared of myself,
Hold the woodpile down.
Chorus...
Love my wife and love my baby,
Hold the woodpile down,
Love my biscuits soaked in gravy,
Hold the woodpile down,
Love my dice and throw my passes,
Hold the woodpile down,
Love my flapjack soaked in 'lasses,
Hold the woodpile down.
Chorus...