Ground Hog [core]

Shoulder up your gun and whistle up your dog
Shoulder up your gun and whistle up your dog
We're off to the woods for to catch a ground hog
Ground hog, ground hog

Too many rocks and too many logs,... (x2)
Too much trouble to hunt ground hogs,...

He's in here boys, the hole's wore slick,... (x2)
C'mon, Sam with your forked stick,...

Stand back, boys, and let's be wise,... (x2)
I think I see his beady little eyes,...

Here comes Sam with a ten foot pole,... (x2)
Twist that whistle pig outta his hole,...

Work, boys, work just as hard as you can tear,... (x2)
The meat'll do to eat and the hide'll do to wear,...

Up come Sal with a snigger and a grin,... (x2)
Ground hog grease all over her chin,...

The children screamed and the children cried,... (x2)
"I love that ground hog cooked or fried!",...

You eat up the meat then you save the hide,... (x2)
Makes the best shoestring that ever was tied,...

Look at them fellers, they're about to fall,... (x2)
Eatin' till their britches won't button at all,...

Little piece of cornbread laying on the shelf,... (x2)
If you want any more you can sing it yourself,...

Listen to this song

This Song Clip was recorded in the key of G. (Click below to play.)

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Get it in print
(two books to choose from!)

Get Started Plus: Core Songs Edition
100 Core Songs (including Ground Hog) plus our acclaimed playing-by-ear learning method.
Read more & look inside.

Big Print Songs
222 traditional songs, including Ground Hog, in large print. Chords, historical info, jamming hints, and more.
Read more & look inside

Get it on CD

Core Songs CD Series

Five CDs, 100 songs, including Ground Hog. Recordings from the Abbott family and their friends.
Listen to samples & buy.

The MP3 collection has all 100 songs on one CD for a discount. See details.


A song from the Mountain Music for Everyone Song Collection from the ToneWay Project. Our website has lyrics to nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. Most songs also include a free MP3 recording that you can listen to. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and resources for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com