The Sow Song (Susannah Was a Funny Old Man)

Song Meaning

This is a playful, almost nonsensical folk tune that centers on a simple narrative: an old man and his sow, who then has nine piglets. The core of the song is the repeated refrain about "Susannah's a funny old man," which immediately introduces an element of delightful absurdity. The initial spoken intro sets a casual, collaborative tone, as if friends are just jamming and deciding on a song, adding to the laid-back, homespun feel. The central tension, if you can call it that, lies in the unexpected gender-bending of Susannah and the slightly chaotic, animalistic interjections. The "snorts," "whistles," and "raspberries" aren't just background noise; they punctuate the lyrics, mirroring the grunts of a sow or the general rowdiness of the scene. This creates a sense of earthy, unrefined humor that underpins the entire piece. The most striking element is the lyrical playfulness, particularly the rhyming and near-rhymes that stretch and contort words. Phrases like "nine little pigs" become "wriggledy-ligs," and "garden wall" morphs into "wriggledy-call." This linguistic gymnastics, combined with the repeated, slightly off-kilter "Susannah's a funny old man," suggests a world where logic takes a backseat to pure, unadulterated fun and a good chuckle. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics comes from their sheer, unpretentious joy. It’s a song that doesn't take itself seriously, reveling in simple storytelling, silly sounds, and a core of unexpected humor. The repeated structure and the nonsensical rhymes create a catchy, memorable tune that feels like a shared inside joke passed down through generations.