Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine (1868)

[Laurence Horn]

Looks as though it might be a "parole blend" as Jerry would call it;
the main concept seems to be "happy as a pig in the sunshine" with
variants, and then there's "tranquil as a dead pig in the sunshine",
which makes sense, possibly resulting in the 1868 hit (I'm assuming
it was in fact 1868) as a blend of the two; cf. "happy as a clam at
high tide" > "happy as a clam", which makes as little sense the happy
dead pig.  Well, maybe a bit more sense than that, but still...

larry horn

At 2:38 AM -0500 3/13/04, Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:


>DEAD PIG IN SUNSHINE--17 Google hits, 4 Google Groups hits
>DEAD PIG IN THE SUNSHINE--240 Google hits, 76  Google Groups hits
>
>    The CASSELL DICTIONARY OF SLANG has "happy as a clam" and "happy as a
>boxing kangaroo in fog time" and "happy as pigs in shit," but is
>sorely lacking a
>happy dead pig.
>    Beats me how a dead pig can be either happy or sad.
>
>
>(WWW.NEWSPAPERARCHIVE.COM)
>Reno Evening Gazette - 12/22/1960
>...him and make him as happy as one of his own PIGS IN THE sunshINe, but when
>he gets.....skiers were gettINg a double shot of sunshINe from THE sky and
>reflected from THE.....THE 'left wINg' IN THE British Labor party. THE NATO
>foreign mINisters met IN Paris THE.....moan THEre won 'THE plenty of
>polar feaTHEr
>IN THE months ahead. TakINg IN a Lot of..
>Reno, Nevada Thursday, December 22, 1960  606 k
>
>Oshkosh Daily Northwestern - 12/27/1960
>...him and make him as happy as one of his own PIGS IN THE sunshINe. but_ he
>gets through.....year IN Western Europe, Western .Europeans, IN 1958, spent
>only 86 million IN THE United.....fINds himself IN THE same position. When THE
>appoINtment ,was announced, he told THE.....than three million dollars. IN
>addition, IN takINg THE job he also accepted a cut IN..
>Oshkosh, Wisconsin Tuesday, December 27, 1960  923 k
>
>Helena Independent - 4/16/1934
>...Rhynes said: Happy as happy as a little PIG IN THE sunshINe, and THEy talk
>about me.....IN THE March issue of THE Journal of THE American Chemical
>society. THE material.....THE touch of THE hell. Marcla stepped from
>THE glare of
>THE sunlight and began to mount.....blood. THE faTHEr escaped from slavery IN
>Kentucky to freedom IN Canada. THE moTHEr..
>Helena, Montana Monday, April 16, 1934  520 k
>
>Ames Daily Tribune - 8/1/1950
>...MILK FROM CONTENTED Happy as a mama PIG IN THE sunshINe is this contented
>sow.....state, THEy cut some on spendINg but not IN proportion to THE declINe
>IN THEir current.....Thirty-live Around THE County With THE 4-H 'ers THE
>selection of THE Demonstra.....Delores Thorson to represent THE
>Union club IN THE
>junior division of THE county style..
>Ames, Iowa Tuesday, August 01, 1950  938 k
>
>Coshocton Tribune - 6/15/1957
>...THEy say. IN Dixie, as happy as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. However warm
>my sentiments.....made her one of THE top female vocalists IN THE country. Jon
>Cypher will be seen IN.....Moon." IN our estimation, "Peek" will be THE big
>side IN THE very near future. We're.....IN an office buildINg with a
>staff of n
>INe. THE enrolled IN THE course pay apiece. Eight..
>Coshocton, Ohio Saturday, June 15, 1957  659 k
>
>Indiana Evening Gazette - 8/20/1966
>...speech with such savINgs as "happy as a. PIG IN THE sunshINe." Siemiller,
>whose union.....longest lordamost costly airlINes strike IN history, THE farm
>boy-turned-president of.....made THE bravest Pony Express rider quake IN his
>boots: Congress, THE Johnson.....hitch hi THE Navy, and later worked
>around THE
>country IN contract shops and railroad..
>Indiana, Pennsylvania Saturday, August 20, 1966  619 k
>
>Ironwood Daily Globe - 7/28/1950
>...FROM CONTENTED Happy as a mama PIG IN THE sunshINe is this contented
>sow.....THE most outstandINg entertaINment program IN THE history of THE
>exposition. Harold.....PenINsula fair queen will be selected. THE
>coronation of THE
>queen will be held IN.....will be held IN THE afternoon, as well as
>THE 4-H club
>parade. THE 4-H club banquet..
>Ironwood, Michigan Friday, July 28, 1950  730 k
>
>Portland Press Herald - 9/6/1950
>...puppy he has been as tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. Life has been
>worth.....balefully. developed a hatred for THE PIG bank and THE vacuum
>cleaner. He took to.....THE possibilities of radio communication IN
>THE region IN
>THE event of any breakdown.....thINgs you blow up for THE kids to play IN. He
>THE fireplug. And he bit THE swimmINg..
>Portland, Maine Wednesday, September 06, 1950  741 k
>
>Berkshire Evening Eagle - 9/5/1950
>...puppy he has been aj tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. Life has been
>worth.....THE Taft-Hartley Act. Bennelt led easily IN THE votINg ill THE
>parly's nomINatINg.....for THE new millINery that will be turINfr
>THE back of THE
>head. THE velvet-like ness.....thINgs you blow up for THE kids to play IN. He
>hated THE fireplug. And he bit THE..
>Pittsfield, Massachusetts Tuesday, September 05, 1950  507 k
>
>Nevada State Journal - 6/29/1942
>...IN THE navy just as happy as a fat PIG IN THE sunshINe. THEy said, "Look,
>we got to.....Only by THE grace of God and a wealth of sunshINe have you
>avoided a serious epidemic.....handled and THE areas IN which THEy work. THE
>program will provide for THE return of.....that THE state will need
>seasonal workers
>IN July, IN August and 000 IN October..
>Reno, Nevada Monday, June 29, 1942  698 k
>
>Morning News Review - 3/30/1924
>...vile stories or sleepINg like a lazy PIG IN THE sunshINe. rpHAT Three
>hundred and.....later at THE sacred concert. A nice ride IN THE cool
>of THE late
>aft ernoon, supper and.....on Ml heiorc THE house THE Midilen chance IN THE
>iventl. M'ilt nffrtrd tklnr ler THE of.....of men, women and children gaTHEr
>early IN THE Sunday schools of THE city, THEn THE..
>Florence, South Carolina   Sunday, March 30, 1924  578 k
>
>Portland Press Herald - 9/6/1950
>...puppy he has been as tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. has been
>worth livINg.....balefully. He developed a hatred for PIG bank and THE vacuum
>cleaner. He took to.....THE same teachers IN charge, Harry Sanborn
>IN THE grammar
>room; Mrs. KaTHErINe Clemons.....opponent IN THEiand children, who have been
>IN THE village for THE v_ Bept. 11 election..
>Portland, Maine Wednesday, September 06, 1950  763 k
>
>Helena Independent - 4/16/1934
>...Rhynes said: Happy as happy as a little PIG IN THE sunshINe, and THEy talk
>about me.....IN THE March issue of THE Journal of THE American Chemical
>society. THE material.....THE touch of THE hell. Marcla stepped from
>THE glare of
>THE sunlight and began to mount.....blood. THE faTHEr escaped from slavery IN
>Kentucky to freedom IN Canada. THE moTHEr..
>Helena, Montana Monday, April 16, 1934  520 k
>
>Ames Daily Tribune - 8/1/1950
>...MILK FROM CONTENTED Happy as a mama PIG IN THE sunshINe is this contented
>sow.....state, THEy cut some on spendINg but not IN proportion to THE declINe
>IN THEir current.....Thirty-live Around THE County With THE 4-H 'ers THE
>selection of THE Demonstra.....Delores Thorson to represent THE
>Union club IN THE
>junior division of THE county style..
>Ames, Iowa Tuesday, August 01, 1950  938 k
>
>Coshocton Tribune - 6/15/1957
>...THEy say. IN Dixie, as happy as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. However warm
>my sentiments.....made her one of THE top female vocalists IN THE country. Jon
>Cypher will be seen IN.....Moon." IN our estimation, "Peek" will be THE big
>side IN THE very near future. We're.....IN an office buildINg with a
>staff of n
>INe. THE enrolled IN THE course pay apiece. Eight..
>Coshocton, Ohio Saturday, June 15, 1957  659 k
>
>Indiana Evening Gazette - 8/20/1966
>...speech with such savINgs as "happy as a. PIG IN THE sunshINe." Siemiller,
>whose union.....longest lordamost costly airlINes strike IN history, THE farm
>boy-turned-president of.....made THE bravest Pony Express rider quake IN his
>boots: Congress, THE Johnson.....hitch hi THE Navy, and later worked
>around THE
>country IN contract shops and railroad..
>Indiana, Pennsylvania Saturday, August 20, 1966  619 k
>
>Ironwood Daily Globe - 7/28/1950
>...FROM CONTENTED Happy as a mama PIG IN THE sunshINe is this contented
>sow.....THE most outstandINg entertaINment program IN THE history of THE
>exposition. Harold.....PenINsula fair queen will be selected. THE
>coronation of THE
>queen will be held IN.....will be held IN THE afternoon, as well as
>THE 4-H club
>parade. THE 4-H club banquet..
>Ironwood, Michigan Friday, July 28, 1950  730 k
>
>Portland Press Herald - 9/6/1950
>...puppy he has been as tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. Life has been
>worth.....balefully. developed a hatred for THE PIG bank and THE vacuum
>cleaner. He took to.....THE possibilities of radio communication IN
>THE region IN
>THE event of any breakdown.....thINgs you blow up for THE kids to play IN. He
>THE fireplug. And he bit THE swimmINg..
>Portland, Maine Wednesday, September 06, 1950  741 k
>
>Berkshire Evening Eagle - 9/5/1950
>...puppy he has been aj tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. Life has been
>worth.....THE Taft-Hartley Act. Bennelt led easily IN THE votINg ill THE
>parly's nomINatINg.....for THE new millINery that will be turINfr
>THE back of THE
>head. THE velvet-like ness.....thINgs you blow up for THE kids to play IN. He
>hated THE fireplug. And he bit THE..
>Pittsfield, Massachusetts Tuesday, September 05, 1950  507 k
>
>Nevada State Journal - 6/29/1942
>...IN THE navy just as happy as a fat PIG IN THE sunshINe. THEy said, "Look,
>we got to.....Only by THE grace of God and a wealth of sunshINe have you
>avoided a serious epidemic.....handled and THE areas IN which THEy work. THE
>program will provide for THE return of.....that THE state will need
>seasonal workers
>IN July, IN August and 000 IN October..
>Reno, Nevada Monday, June 29, 1942  698 k
>
>Morning News Review - 3/30/1924
>...vile stories or sleepINg like a lazy PIG IN THE sunshINe. rpHAT Three
>hundred and.....later at THE sacred concert. A nice ride IN THE cool
>of THE late
>aft ernoon, supper and.....on Ml heiorc THE house THE Midilen chance IN THE
>iventl. M'ilt nffrtrd tklnr ler THE of.....of men, women and children gaTHEr
>early IN THE Sunday schools of THE city, THEn THE..
>Florence, South Carolina   Sunday, March 30, 1924  578 k
>
>Portland Press Herald - 9/6/1950
>...puppy he has been as tranquil as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. has been
>worth livINg.....balefully. He developed a hatred for PIG bank and THE vacuum
>cleaner. He took to.....THE same teachers IN charge, Harry Sanborn
>IN THE grammar
>room; Mrs. KaTHErINe Clemons.....opponent IN THEiand children, who have been
>IN THE village for THE v_ Bept. 11 election..
>Portland, Maine Wednesday, September 06, 1950  763 k
>
>Petersburg Index - 7/10/1868
>...pleased before, uri; now as happy as a dead PIG IN THE sunshINe. Our
>foHulli passed off.....and ESTABLISHMENT oifeft unrivalled for THE
>execution IN THE
>most tasteful style THE.....THE Supreme Court of THE United States THE us lo
>THE constiLutionalily of THE.....I a Jani of and THE only saw THE traIN IN
>motion; but learn '.hut la THE box cars U..
>Petersburg, Virginia Friday, July 10, 1868  789 k
>Pg. 1, col. 3:
>    Even the old complainers, that were never known to be pleased before, are
>now as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.
>
>Daily Constitution - 2/15/1878
>...THE hen as contentedly and happy a PIG IN THE sunshINe ClosINg THE small
>hole made for.....THE very liberal share of public IN THE mad IN view of INg a
>lore lumber of friends IN.....thINg IN THE This little with a worthless IN
>broad day light IN THE presence of a coe.....fire THE and so did of
>Chattahoochee
>told THE editor of THE bus Times THE oTHEr day of..
>Atlanta, Georgia Friday, February 15, 1878  952 k
>
>Daily Constitution - 2/15/1878
>...THE hen as contentedly and happy a PIG IN THE sunshINe ClosINg THE small
>hole made for.....THE very liberal share of public IN THE mad IN view of INg a
>lore lumber of friends IN.....thINg IN THE This little with a worthless IN
>broad day light IN THE presence of a coe.....fire THE and so did of
>Chattahoochee
>told THE editor of THE bus Times THE oTHEr day of..
>Atlanta, Georgia Friday, February 15, 1878  952 k