Trying to Make a Hundred

DESCRIPTION: "I'm singing, Trying to make a hundred, Ninety-nine and a half won't do." "I'm mourning, trying to make a hundred." "I'm praying, trying to make a hundred." "Ninety-nine and a half, it won't do, it just won't do, It's an uphill journey....."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1972 (Killion/Waller-ATreasuryOfGeorgiaFolklore)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Killion/Waller-ATreasuryOfGeorgiaFolklore, "Tryin' to Make a Hundred" (1 text)
Roud #18147
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Ninety-Nine and a Half
NOTES [70 words]: I've heard several versions of this song, but to date, I've never heard an explanation of what is so special about one hundred, as opposed to six, or 433, or 1281. Nor do the versions say what the singer is trying to make a hundred OF. Percent, maybe? I strongly doubt the person who came up with this song knew what percentage was. So it's a very curious song -- at least to me as a person with mathematical training. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.2
File: KiWa239T

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