Lyrics
Old Bangum will you hunt and ride? (dillum-down, dillum)
Old Bangum is asked if he will hunt and ride.
Old Bangum will you hunt and ride?
Repetition of the question about Old Bangum hunting and riding.
Old Bangum will you hunt and ride, sword and a pistol by your side?
Old Bangum is asked again about hunting and riding, with weapons at his side.
(Killee-kee, killee-killee-cum, killee-quo-cum)
Chorus-like sounds, possibly indicating a transition or ritualistic element.
Old Bangum rode to the riverside
Old Bangum rides to the riverside.
Old Bangum rode to the riverside
Repetition of Old Bangum riding to the riverside.
Old Bangum rode to the riverside, he swore’d a young maiden he did spy
Old Bangum goes to the riverside where he spots a young maiden.
He said “young maid will you marry me?”
Old Bangum proposes marriage to the young maiden.
He said “young maid will you marry me?”
Repetition of the proposal to marry the young maiden.
But she said “no lord we couldn’t agree.”
The young maiden rejects Old Bangum's proposal.
“There lives a wild boar in these woods”
Introduction of a wild boar in the woods.
“There lives a wild boar in these woods”
Repetition emphasizing the presence of a wild boar in the woods.
“There lives a wild boar in these woods, eats mens’ bones and it drinks their blood.”
Description of the wild boar's menacing nature, consuming men's bones and drinking their blood.
Old Bangum rode to the wild boar’s den
Old Bangum heads to the wild boar's den.
Old Bangum rode to the wild boar’s den
Repetition of Old Bangum approaching the wild boar's den.
He saw the bones of a thousand men
Old Bangum discovers the remains of numerous men at the wild boar's den.
Old Bangum drew his wooden knife
Old Bangum takes out his wooden knife.
Old Bangum drew his wooden knife
Repetition of Old Bangum preparing to confront the wild boar.
Swore “by God, I’m gonna take it’s life”
Old Bangum vows to take the wild boar's life, expressing determination.
Old Bangum and the wild boar fought
Old Bangum engages in a fight with the wild boar.
Old Bangum and the wild boar fought
Repetition of Old Bangum and the wild boar in combat.
The sun came up and the boar was naught
The battle concludes with the sun rising, and the boar is defeated.
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