Devil Eat the Groundhog (Chapman + Smith versions)
I wondered at first if here might be some symbolic significance or a legend of some kind involving the Devil eating a groundhog, but I think it’s just part of the lyrics, because I found a sung version which rhymes hound dog and ground hog. In fact, it seems like the hound dog is in fact the “devil” who ate the ground hog. But maybe it would be a good phrase to yell out in frustration. If you are having trouble playing a note in tune, feel free to shout “Devil Eat the Groundhog!” and see if it helps. (Email me if this method is a breakthrough for you and we’ll call it the Groundhog method of tuning.)
To get back on track, this tune traces back to a fiddler named Owen “Snake” Chapman from Kentucky. It seems Owen learned a whole lot of repertoire from his father Doc, who was born around 1850, and Owen’s recordings helped to preserve some of this material. While he experimented with more modern sounding fiddle styles, he ultimately came back to a more Old-Time sound. To read a great detailed article about Chapman and his recordings, follow this link.
I have transcribed two versions. One is Owen Chapman and the other from Paul Smith who appears on the Chapman recording playing banjo accompaniment. There are some small differences in some of the phrases, here and there. Since they recorded the earlier version together, I assume that Smith learned the tune from Chapman. The differences between the two versions provides a good example of how tunes can drift and change over the years, either accidentally, as a fiddler plays variations on a tune (this has happened to me without my realizing it!) or on purpose, when someone wants to put their own stamp on a melody. One of my favorite things about playing fiddle is that it is considered a good thing to make your own version of a tune, or to draw from a few sources to cobble one together. I love that creativity is encouraged and celebrated in fiddle culture. (The Classical world hasn’t operated like that for almost 400 years!)
