Hogan's
Goat, The Eternal Question
"
My Dad used the phrase "As F****** up as
Hogan's goat when I was a kid I can remember this
was in the forties. He never was in the Navy but
was in the Army during WW ONE. He was cop in a
small town in Missouri most of his life and he
used the term regularly. Could he have picked it
up from a Navy or Marine vet ?/ I always thought
it was a midwest term until I joined the Navy.
More mysteries - no solid answers. Will we ever
know???"
-
Art Smith, USN Retired
A
Farmin' We Will Go With Hogan's Goat
"Yesterday
I was searching for a reference to John V. Hogan
(my first cousin) when a whole bunch of
references to Hogan's goat appeared. Later that
night, I thought Hogan's Goat would be a fabulous
name for the Boer goat breeding enterprise I plan
to start on 80 acres in Oklahoma. Does anyone
know if someone owns the rights? I sure would
like to use it since my last name is Hogan.."
-Jeanette
Hogan
Oh
That Goat!
"I'm
a police officer who worked for several years for
a retired Marine Colonel. I always knew when my
efforts had fallen short because the question
"Does this remind you of Hogan's Goat?"
would be his conversation opener. I asked my Dad,
a WWII Marine Iwo vet, what that meant, and he
provided the full "As $#@^& up as
Hogan's Goat" phrase for me. Thanks to your
web site now I know where it came from."
-
Jim Greer
That's
a Goat Question: Could This Be the Answer?
"Here's where I
think this phrase about Hogan's goat came from.
It is from a poem
by the same name and a man called Hogan loved a
goat but the goat f***** up and ate 3 red shirts
off the clothes line. The goat was then tied to a
rail road track to wait his untimely demise.
Fortunately for the goat, he threw up the red
shirts which flagged down the train prior to
being killed."
- Rob
Noel
"Hogan's
Goat" Goes Down in 1948
A Boeing
B29 Superfortress, the "Hogan's Goat",
was ditched in the Pacific in 1948. Click here to read the exciting account.
-Courtesy
of Brother Bob
A
Goat is a Goat, of Course, of Course
I'm
impressed with your knowledge of obscure American
phrases. This one, Hogan's goat was not in the
Random House but in Cassell's Dictionary of
Slang. I found this: "hogan's goat, phrase,
20th Century, (U.S.), Smelly, malodorous, usually
as 'stinks like hogan's goat'. [A fanciful animal
owned by a ficticious Irishman] Note:
uncapitalised Hogan in this dictionary.
-Dave
Hannah
A
Precise Goat
"I
spent 20 years in the Navy, and heard the
"f**ked up as Hogan's Goat" a lot. But
when something was really messed up, the saying
would be "that makes Hogan's goat look like
a precision instrument"
-Joe
Kavale
The Goat News
"Not long ago, my boyfriend's brother-in-law told me that I was "as full of s*** as Hogan's goat". I asked him what Hogan's goat was and he told me he didn't know, but I was as full of s*** as he was!
I thought nothing of it until recently I was purusing the newspaper and saw an ad for a business called Hogan's Goat. The origin of this Hogan's Goat had me curious so I thought I could find out on the internet. After slogging through a band's website and something about Faye Dunaway I came across this site and you all set me straight.
Thanks loads."
-Amanda Briles
Building Great Ships with Hogan's Goat
"At Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, we have used this phrase since we started building ships, well over 100 years ago. As a shipbuilder there for 35+ years, I've heard it almost once a day for those 35years. Yet we build the world's finest ships........Go figure!"
-Dennis Youland
A SeaBee's Goat
"My dad, born in 1919, was a SeaBee from 1942-1945 and during WWII served on many of the islands in the Pacific theatre. His favorite expression was, "This is as screwed up as Hogans Goat." I use the expression to this day and always wondered where it came from. Like the others on this site, now I know. Thanks!!! "
-Tom Freiwald
Goat Ahoy!
"Well, I guess the ole saying is still alive. It's 2003 and I'm eating lunch at my desk when the saying, "All f@#%ed up as Hogan's Goat" pops into my head. My chief used it regularly during my USN tenure from 1976-1980 aboard the USS Independence. Thanks to your web site, I now have some insight to this mysterious saying I had almost forgetten about! Thanks to you and everyone else who have contributed to this site!!! "
-Rick Whittaker
The Merchant Mariner's Goat
"I was a Third, then Second Mate for American Export during the sixties. I sailed on three different ships with three completely different crews, yet that expression was used daily. "
-Bill Mallett
Goat Matters
"A former boss used this just today so I had to look it up. Sounds as if there is no definitive answer to this one either. For example, I have also heard that 9 yards was the capacity of a concrete truck and sharp minded engineers had to ensure that contractors were indeed giving them the "whole 9 yards". I like the .50 caliber version better.
Here is the poem that is referenced above and the link where I found it. Whether yakking up those shirts or getting pummeled by a locomotive for its insubordination, that goat would indeed have been f'd up, Hogan's or not. Also known as Bill Grogan's goat or Old Tyram's goat.
http://www.scoutscan.com/songs/o/osong019.html "
-Brian Tarbuck
Goatness Gracious!
"I asked my first Chief this same question on my first patrol.."so who the hell is Hogan and what the F#@* is the matter with his goat!!?? He told me Hogan was a gay marine who had a pet goat with only three legs,one eye, and a speech impediment. Being a greenie I took him at his word since that did sound pretty f#@*ed up. Interesting to see some other insights....so really, who the hell is Hogan and what the hell is the matter with his friggin goat anyway?! "
Leroy - USS James Madison (Gold) SSBN 627, Class of 1973-1977
Here's a Goat One
Here is the version of the "Hogan's Goat" phrase as I have heard it -
A long time ago in Ireland there lived a potato farmer named Hogan. With some of his potatoes he would make potato whiskey. Once a week he would go into town to sell some of his whiskey. Naturally, he would sample some of his product and get a little tipsy before he went. His goat would be in the back of the barn eating the waste (potato peels etc.). The goat would get drunk too. As he was staggering into town, the goat would be following (staggering too!). So the town's people seeing this would remark to anyone who had drank too much that "they were as drunk (%$#%#$) as Hogan's Goat"
-Bruce Morgan
The Goat Weather
I heard them saying "As Cold As Hogan's Goat" back in the mid 70's from a man named Bill Magee. I never thought too much about it, but find myself using it everytime the weather gets hot or cold. Older folks when hearing this, comment they have not heard that expression in a long time.
-Jim Oskison
He Has a Goat Memory
My D.I. at Parris Island July 15th to Aug. 30th, 1942, or there abouts, whose name was Cpl. Thompson, would always say to any Boot that screwed up, 'Hogan's Goat compared to you is a virgin, or you are all fouled up like Hogan's Goat.'
-Howard C. Terry
He's a Goat Man
I was at my pal Dale's and he used the expression "as f***** up as Hogan's Goat." Having never heard it before, and intrigued, I googled it and found this wonderful website. As it turns out, Dale is a Navy vet, so that must be where he learned it.
-Randy Walker
A Hell of a Goat Story
"I was a M1A1 Tank Platoon Leader in Germany in 1993 and my Platoon Sergeant, Wesley Castleberry, from Georgia used this expression regularly. Over the years my entire platoon began using it as well. One night, we were occupying a company assembly area near Range 301 at Grafenwoehr Training Area when a shepherd herded his flock of goats into the field behind our position. To our amazment there was a three legged sheep with a missing eye pulling up the rear. Simultaneously, we looked at each other and wonder aloud if we had just seen Hogan's Goat..."
-Gregg Langevin
The Goat in the Disaster
"While manning an Amateur Radio station at the Emergency Management office in Elizabeth City, NC during Hurricane Isabel recovery, I was told by an old salt in Edenton, NC that the situation there was "like Hogan's goat". Indeed it is."
-Jeff Madre
He Makes a Goat Point
"These testimonials are nice, but they don't answer THE question! What IS the explanation for the expression, 'Fxxxxx up as Hogan's goat'?"
-Tom C. McKenney USMC 1949-75
We'll likely never know so the page has just evolved into a stop along the information highway. Here you can have a laugh or share a smile while enjoying a can of your favorite beer. Of course, if anyone out there does figure out the mystery we'd sure like to know!
Another Goat Expression
"I first heard a similar phrase 'deader than Hogan's goat' from a coworker in the FAA in about 1976. It cracked me up, and I've used it frequently in appropriate places ever since. I've often wondered who Hogan's goat was. I still really don't know, but the one tied to the railroad tracks looks like a good candidate.......By the way, my understanding of 'the whole nine yards' has always been the amount of yarn in a skein; nine yards, taken from the context of ensuring that a consumer got full measure of stock from the merchant."
-Rod Peterson
Goat Music
"I came to this site looking for the words to the song Old Hogan's Goat.My kids were taught the song in school music class and were quite offended by it. I thought nothing of it, figured it was a local's song. But when my dad told me his grandparents taught it to him too, I was curious to find it's origin. Here's the song:'....Old Hogan's Goat...Was feeling Fine.........He ate two shirts right off the line.......
I took a stick........And broke his back.......And tied him to a railroad track......A speeding train........Came speeding by........Old Hogan's Goat was sure to die........He gave a shriek.......A shriek of pain......Coughed up the shirts......And FLAGGED DOWN THE TRAIN!'
Have no idea if it's related to your Hogan's Goat sayings, but I enjoyed your site and thought I'd share the song. "
-Rob
A Goat Saying
My Dad is now 77 years old and he has always said "I was sicker than Hogan's goat" which leads me to believe the poem post above.
-Dave Doty
A Goat Lesson
Growing up I, as many of you, heard the phrase "F*ck*d up like Hogan's
Goat". I didn't realize the mystery or interest about this phrase until I came upon this site.
What I heard from my Grandfather, who loved mythology, was this, "Hogan
is the Americanized/Anglicized version of Hogun, a Norse warrior and good friend to the
Thunder-God, Thor. In his adventures with Thor, he gained the respect
of Odin, the All-father. As a gift, Odin gave Hogun a magical goat. The goat was
to be used as a pack animal as well as being endowed with a special
ability. Hogun could kill, butcher, and eat the goat each evening, and when he awoke
the next morning the goat would be completely restored. As with most gifts
from Gods, there was a catch-requirement. Hogun could never break any of
the goat's bones when butchering or eating the goat.
All went well until one evening as he was sitting next to his fire eating his goat, a stranger came upon him. The stranger was an old man, who looked quite poor and
destitute. The stranger in actuality was Loki, God of Mischief. Hogun, being the
Norse warrior he was, had already consumed most of his goat, but offered the
old man what was left. The stranger ate what Hogun had given him, but complained he was still quite hungry. The stranger (Loki) begged Hogun for one bone to break and suck the marrow out of to erase his hunger. Hogun was unsure, but being the kind soul he was, he agreed. He offered the stranger a small leg bone. The stranger then broke it and hungrily sucked the marrow from it. The stranger then thanked Hogun over and over again for his kindness. Hogun went to sleep feeling good about helping the stranger and forgot about Odin's warning.
When Hogun awoke the next morning, the goat was restored, but there was a problem. The leg that had been broken was now lame. Consequently, the goat could not carry as much as it had before, nor could it walk as quickly or steadily as it had. And this is where my grandfather told me the term "F*ck*d up as Hogun's Goat" as well as "Broke as Hogun's Goat" came from. I've heard both expressions from childhood. A side note to this, my grandfather also said that he thought this story inspired the famous line "Sucking the marrow from life".
I have yet to find anything to verify or discredit this story. If anyone knows more about this, please feel free to e-mail me.
the_wymores@yahoo.com"
-Glenn Wm. Wymore
A Goat Explanation
I was led to believe by my father that it was 19th-20th century naming of a half man (hogan) and half goat(goat)creature reminescent of Greek Mythology and then popularized. Of course if you were half man and half goat you would be F***** up as hogan's goat as well!!
-John
A Goat Possibility
I heard this expression and immediately asked for further clarification, and was told that some Hogan of legend had a goat that everyone "had their way with," hence the expression. I was satisfied with this explanation because it fit the context of any use of the expression I had encountered since--before visiting this site that is.
-Jim
Havin' a Goat Time
Well we were out at my friend, Jameson's, house, and Derrick was pretty drunk. Jameson's dad Jim asked Derrick if he was "F**ked up like Hogan's goat". We all just busted out laughing cause none of us have every heard that before, and none of us know's where it come's from.
-Steve
A Goat Story from her Childhood
When I was a kid in Deale, Md there was a gigantic old gray abandoned navy boat moored at the mouth of our bay that everyone called Hogans Goat. For some reason the other day I thought about Hogans Goat and the meaning and searched the Internet which led me to this site. I think but don't remember for sure (remember I was a kid) that it actually had Hogans Goat across its stern. Many years later in an effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay tributaries Hogans Goat was towed away. It was an oddity among all the fishing and oyster/crab boats but a landmark that certainly marked our channel. I always wondered what ever happened to it and probably will never learn. This site has given me a lot of ideas about the name & its origin. It's also brought back many memories of a boat that held my fascination as a child for many years. Thanks everyone!
-Joy
A Goat Theory
I grew up in Georgia in the forties. We often drove to vacation sites in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. The first time I saw the very old man in his open red cart being pulled by "a team" of goats my father said that the old man was Hogan - the goat man. We saw him several times over many years, usually in northern GA and NC. Sometimes there would be one or more goats, with apparent injuries or diabilities, in the cart. Often we could smell them before we could see them. When I was old enough to ask, my father said that old Hogan and his goats were indeed the source of someone or something being "f***ked up as Hogan's goat"
-Michael
The Goat's Moat
I was told there was a man by the name of Hogan. This man had a moat around his castle. One day the moat dried up and all the fish and alligators died and began to stink the place up. Someone said, It's F#$%^& up as Hogans moat, Someone heard that and thought he said Hogans Goat.
-Anon
The Goat Word Spreads
My uncle Joe was visiting us from Longview, Texas recently, and we were talking about something that was pretty screwed up. Joe exclaimed "that's more F'ed up than Hogan's Goat"! My sister, and brother in law were also in the car with us, and they were also visiting from Mansfield, Texas. Right away it was assumed that someone else in the car knew about Hogan's Goat, and it's affliction. Ultimately after questioning my other relatives in the car, we realized that the only one who knew about Hogan's Goat was my uncle.
I had recently met "Hollywood Hulk Hogan" at a Harley Davidson event, but he did not say anything about owning a goat. My sister used to watch Hogan's Heroes, and still no goat. And, my brother in law once ate a Hoagie sandwich, no goat involved there either. We realized that maybe this euphemism was something that did not make it as far west as Southern California, or was a phrase my uncle had devised to describe a situation that was totally screwed up. Now thanks to your wonderful website, we realize that people still refer to poor Hogan's Goat, and we have some history behind it's disorder.
-Cameron Ward
Another Goat Use
A coworker introduced me and others to the saying "Hogan's Goat Detail" and it's now common terminology throughout our company and my home. Something is defined as "Hogan" when a task or job has been haphazardly/piss-poorly done. "Your design of our online customer database is Hogan, because nothing works correctly!" It's very difficult to not use the term daily now. "Half my roof blew away in the windstorm because our developers did such a Hogan job of it".
-Compliments of Grizz
Better Late Than Never
I can't believe in my 65 years of life I never heard of Hogan's Goat until today. I was talking to my brother on the phone and he mentioned that something was "Slower Than Hogan's Goat". He couldn't belive I'd never heard that phrase. He lives in MO. Anyway I decided to research Hogan's Goat on the internet, your website came up. So thought I would let you know of my brother's version. Thanks.
-Shirley
The Goat Old Chief Instructor
"I had a crusty old Chief instructor at A school at Great Lakes in 1974. He couldn't talk for five minutes without saying something was "as f***ed up as Hogan's goat." We were all mystified but none of us newbies had the nerve to ask him where it came from. It just occurred to me now these 30 years later that I could search it on line. Thanks for the site."
-Bill Bracey
The Goat Mystery
"As a late '60's Seabee, I heard how f***** up Hogan's goat was, but I never met Hogan, or set eyes on his goat."
-Mike Zapruder
The Annapolis Goat?
"I thought the Naval Academy's mascot was named Hogan's Goat and was a reference to "the Old Man" on any US Navy ship when he screwed up."
-Dave Colby
The Obstipated Goat
"My grandfather, a WWII era Army man, used to say the phrase "bound up like Hogan's goat," using it explicitly to refer to constipation. He'd often tell me, "that'll bind you up, like Hogan's goat!" If other stories about people having their way with the goat are true, this may explain the idea that it was "bound up." I'm not certain if there's any possibility that the goat was "bound" in any other way (as in tied up).."
-Scott
They Got Goat Grades
"Elementary reader:
We had an elementary book reader in Brooklyn, NY, that had stories of Mr. Hogan and his goat. The goat was always causing trouble getting into gardens and eating the labels off of tin cans. People before me used that reader."
-Eldor Herrmann, age 71
The Goat Old Days
My father taught us kids this poem when we were little. He said he learned it in th C.C.C. camp during the 30's.
"...Bill Hogan's goat was feelin' fine...
Ate three red shirts right off the line...
His master came and broke his back,...
Then tied him to the railroad track.
The whistle blew,the train came nigh...
Bill Hogan's goat was doomed to die...
But he gave three hacks in mortal pain...
Coughed up the shirts and flagged the train!
-Pat Davidson, Silverdale,WA
(Like to hear from somebody who knows about the poem I sent. Thanx, Pat Davidson, e-mail: patd3985@yahoo.com )
Lost as a Goat
"Yesterday was my introduction to this phrase. I am in Duluth, Minnesota and got a call from a trucker who was from the southern U.S. He called me for directions because he was "as lost as Hogan's goat."
-Ron
Another Lost Goat
"I heard a guy say that someone was "as lost a Hogan's Goat", and my search for answers brought me here. He was born in West Texas in the early 1940's, but has lived in the South East most of his life. He is also a well travelled private pilot."
-Mark
A New Twist with Hogan's Goat
"I can't recall when I first heard the phrase but it has always been,"Tied up like Hogan's goat." I use it in my work as a physical therapist in an acute care hospital. I.V. lines, catheters, oxygen tubing.. "If you don't slow down Sir, we'll end up tied up like Hogan's goat." I'm located in a Kansas City, Missouri suburb where we treat folks from all over the country who live in a large retirement village in town. A Michigan native asked me today who Hogan was and I promised I'd try to find out. It seems to be sparsely recognized but a great laugh and conversation starter for my patients. I really like the Norse myth... that is the story I'll be sharing with my patients. Anyway wasn't it Bill Grogan's goat who was feeling fine and ate the 3 red shirts?"
-Ella
World War Two Patrol Boat Information Sought
"During WWII my father, Paul Wallace, served in a small boat (5 man crew) named Hogan's Goat. This boat was part of a fake invasion along the French coast that was supposed to draw attention away from the real invasion. They strung tin foil on lines between the boats to make them seem bigger to the Germans. The Navy apparently didn't expect any of the boats to survive. Dad's boat did, and did mail duty in the Mediterranean for at least part of the war. The Captain's name was Poet.
If anyone out there knows more about this, please let me know. I have pictures of the boat and crew to share."
e-mail: BrightShadow49@yahoo.com )
-Sue Wallace
Another Goat Comment
"I was raised in west central Missouri and f***ed up worse than Hogan's goat was one of the standard curses we learned as adolescents in the 50s. Later replaced by "snafu" in the 60s & "fubar" in the 70s. Or "bohica" (bend over here it comes again) from the 90s. Funny I never wondered about Hogan until now. I just assumed it was a phrase brought back by the vets from Big 2 (WWII) like a great many others, most of which cannot be repeated in todays pc world.
Wonderful site btw.."
-Crash
A Goat Note
"I was born and raised in west central Missouri and I have always heard it as 'Locked up tighter than Hogan's goat'"
-Bill Buchholtz
Another Goat Opinion
"My father, who was in the USN as a cook, and myself, I was in submarines, both had the idea that "f***** up like Hogan's Goat, was the goat was basically the dumbest animal there was and its whole philosophy was "If you can't eat, fight it, or F*** it, P*ss on it" and that's what it did to all of this mythical "hogan's" stuff."
-Padre Mellryn
An Olden Goat
"In WWII I had a pet goat named Hogan."
-M Freely
The Saying That Goats On and On
"I was in a bar tonight and someone said f***** up as Hogan's Goat. My wife said "My husband says that all the time and looked at me." I replied "I don't know why I say it, I've said it since I was in the Navy."
Now retired.. 1961-1990 USN.."
-S.Taylor
That Immortal Goat
"I heard it commonly in the USAF during the 50s and 60s. My father-in-law used to say it on appropriate occasion, like when the Jeep would break down off road, and he spent his time in the Navy during the mid-30s."
-R. Thomas
That Inscrutable Goat
"So, no one seems to know the origins of the phrase! Well, all I can say is 'that's just as F&*#ed up as Hogan's goat!'"
-LtCol B. Norquist USMC
Ah yes, Colonel, but don't you think the whole thing would lose it's charm if we knew the answer? Thanks for posting.
He Had Goat Manners
"My dad was a PFC Marine in the Pacific during WW II. From him I learned the phrase "That's more messed up than Hogan's goat." He never hesitated to cuss, but I can't recall hearing the f-word ever pass his lips."
-Woody's Daughter
A Goat Reference
"When stationed onboard The USS Oklahoma City in the early 1990's, our captain said in reference to a particularly badly run drill "That's as f***ed up as Hogan's goat". I've remembered this and have often thought of it over the years. This phrase spread all over the boat because nobody had ever heard it before. We concluded that he must have been speaking of a goat that had figured into the plot of an episode of Hogan's Hero's that we had all missed."
-N. Hiley
Coulter's Believe it or Not!
"First let me give you the song "Bill Grogan's Goat":
"Bill Grogan's Goat was feeling fine
Ate three red shirts from off the line.
Bill took a stick, gave him a whack,
And tied him to the railroad track.
The whistle blew, the train grew nigh,
Bill Grogan's goat was doomed to die.
He gave three groans of awful pain,
Coughed up the shirts and flagged the train!"
Next, the real story about "Hogan's Goat":
According to Robert Schwebke, who grew up in Miami, in 1942 there was a Hogan's Market on SW 8th St (Tamiami Trail) near 17th Ave, which was like a farmer's market, run by a Ray Hogan. (Bob went to Shenandoah grade school with Ray Jr.). Behind the market, Mr Hogan kept goats, one of which had a short 5th hind leg. Every time the goat peed, he peed on the 5th leg. This provided great amusement for the neighborhood boys, and Bob still (2008) remembers it well. Bob first heard the well known expression in San Diego circa 1947 while in the Navy, and is convinced that the goat in question is the goat he remembers behind Hogan's Market. During WWII, there were many US Navy personnel in and around Miami, and that would explain why the expression has roots in Navy lore.
Believe it or not!"
-Bob Coulter USNA '55
We Did a Goat Deed!
"My grandfather was born in 1883 and when I was little he sang this song to me. I could not remember the words, only that it was about a goat eating red shirts off the clothesline. I never knew the name. I now have great-grandchildren. I really appreciate each person who put the words to this on this site. I have each version printed out so I can teach the song to my little ones. This has put a lot of wondering to rest. Again, I thank you very much and also I do know that I was blessed to have a grandfather who loved me so much."
-Sara Luksic
A "Billick" Goat, Perhaps?
"Listening to the Redskin vs Lions game today we noted Brian Billick, former coach of the Baltimore Ravens use the phrase "messed up as Hogan's Goat". Maybe we can get him to explain it."
-Judy
A Variation of a Goat Theme
"I received an email from one of my six brothers today. He was telling me about a project he is on that is "screwy as Hogan's Goat". I am sure he does not normally say "screwy", but cleaned it up for my benefit! I had never heard it before, did a search and found your site. Very interesting!"
-Theresa
Gramps Settles a Goat Argument
"I come from a large family and there was always rivalry between the different uncles who served in different branches of the service.
My army uncle, who is a kind of family historian and often held the money on bets, was relating a story to me about a fight between
two of the other uncles and a large sum of money he gained over the source of Hogan's Goat sayings. Finally they called long
distance, not cheap in those days, to Grandpa to settle the argument. The Navy uncle was saying it was a mascot the other, a Marine,
was saying it was political, which seems to agree with some of your references. I can't remember all the details as it's been over
40 years since I heard the story. I do recall Gramps saying 'No, no, it was around when he was a child in Ireland in the mid 1800s'
and had been around much longer than he could recall with people picking it up and using it because it fit. I can remember wondering
so where it came from. Since both uncles were wrong the older Army uncle kept the money and it became a 'bone of contention' for
years."
-Sue
He Had Goat Luck
"My Dad was a USN pilot during WW2. He told me his aircraft, a Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator, was named 'Hogan's Goat' by his plane commander while in Europe and that it meant 'the plane had lots of problems'... but in his case...it was good luck. He must have had a great ground crew because he retired after 30 years service and with over 60,000 flight hours. He passed away from old age in 2005."
-Steve Matthewson
A Goat Comparison?
"What about the phrase "Tighter Than Dick's Hatband". Who is this "Dick" feller, and why was his hatband so tight?"
-Grant Mayo
(Thank-you for your comment. We could ask about Dick and his hatband. And, hey, while we're at it, we could ask who the welldigger was and why was his you-know-what so cold. But we'll have to leave those two mysteries for someone else's page. This page is exclusively dedicated to the one and only goat! Take care.)
A Goat Answer to the Vexed Question
"Being in the military I have heard this term a lot and was curious as to the origin. Doing a little digging around the net, Wiki explained the Hogan's Goat play. The term Hogan's goat had nothing to do with the animal as many had suggested. You were right with your last guess. Although the prior mentioned comics probably used an allegory (I think is the right term) about Hogan's goat for humor.
The term originates from the 1890 play by William Alfred, Hogan's Goat as you had mentioned. Hogan's goat refers to Mathew Statton. Statton was running for political office and was once a "kept man" or "goat" (term used back then) of Agnes Hogan hence Hogan's goat. In 1890, this was scandalous. It was leaked by his opponent, Quinn, and that ruined his political career. I believe this led to the phrase stinks like Hogan's goat and for added emphasis became F$%@ up like Hogan's goat.
I guess the question is why did this phrase get picked up in the military but forgotten in the civilian world? Was this play/movie shown a lot to soldiers for entertainment?"
-Tadashi
The Goat of the Deep
"I was assigned to a nuclear missile submarine during the early 1970's. My supervisor, Wally, used the "F'ed up as" phrase whenever he was disgusted with some situation that occured. I think most of the junior sailors, including me, assumed this was just "Navy jargon", one of the many descriptive Navy terms for life as a sailor! No explanation for the exact meaning of this term was ever offered or requested since the tone of its dramatic delivery usually fit the circumstance exceedingly well."
-Gerry Pollack
Boeing's Goat
"The Americans used the Boeing B29 "Superfortress" to do much bombing in WWII."Hogan's Goat" was one that crash-landed on the reef at Fais. Hence the term: "F**d Up Like Hogan's Goat".
-Capt. Nick Macsata, US Army
(Thank-you for your comment. Of course we already knew about the B-29 named "Hogan's Goat" and have a reference to it nearer to the top of the page. However, it's always nice to remind everyone, once in a while, about a fascinating goat story. Take care.)
A Highland Goat?!?
I heard the Hogan's Goat saying
while sitting in a smelt shack
on the Androscoggin River on February 27th, 2009.
My friend used the phrase and I quickly asked its
origin. He referred to the goat who raided all
the gardens. I found this site when I went looking for an answer and forwarded this page to
my friend. He called this morning and sang the
the words of the Goat who ate the red shirts.
He reported that are are more verses BUT that goat
was named the HIGHLAND GOAT!
-John Holmes
Dad's Goat Impression
My dad used the expression as f***ed as Hogan's goat only around us boys and only at times when things did not go as planned. He was a WWII vet, and knowing his background, I imagine he learned the term in the service, or from an older brother who was in the navy. Amusingly, even now, when things go awry they are as f***ed up as Hogan's goat.
-Craig P.
Get your own Free
Home Page
"It's all f***ed up like
Hogan's Goat" he said. I first heard this lovely
little saying back in the seventies from an American
TBM pilot. I laughed then began to wonder just who
this Hogan was and what was so terribly wrong with
his goat. No one knew. Later, I reasoned that the
expression was a pet saying of the USN and the USMC
when I encountered a story by a Second World War
Parris Island "graduate" who went off into
battle wondering exactly the same thing I was to
wonder 35 years later. While in a library a few years
back looking into certain old comic strips I
encountered the long lost gem "Hogan's Alley",
an 1890s newspaper cartoon. I was thrilled. Could it
be the key to solving the mystery? I mean it had all
the features. Goats, squalor, a man named Hogan who
apparently lived in the area. A former USN submariner
wrote to me to say he had recollection of seeing
Hogan's Alley strips exhibited at a base during World
War Two. Alternatively, the expression may have had
something to do with corrupt Brooklyn politics during
the late 19th century which was the subject of the
play "Hogan's Goat" by William Alfred.
While by no means conclusive, the "evidence" is
presented here for your amusement, consideration and
discussion.