title: Why doesn't "git log -‌- foo" work for deleted file foo?
body: <p>My repository underwent changes such as:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>...some unrelated commits...</li>
  <li>Commit new file <code>foo</code> with 100 lines of content</li>
  <li>...intervening commits, some of which touch <code>foo</code>...</li>
  <li>Insert the contents of <code>foo</code> at the top of an existing file <code>bar</code> and <code>git rm foo</code> in the same commit</li>
  <li>...more unrelated commits...</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Now I want to see the log of deleted file <code>foo</code>.  Everything I've read, including on SO, says I should be able to <code>git log -- foo</code>, but that command produces no output.</p>
  
  <p>If I find the commit that includes deleting <code>foo</code> I can <code>git log 1234abcd -- foo</code> and see its log, so I think my path to <code>foo</code> isn't the problem.  Also note that <code>git merge-base HEAD 1234abcd</code> outputs <code>1234abcd[...]</code>, so I think that should prove the commit is reachable from <code>HEAD</code>.  Note that there is no file <code>foo</code> in my working tree (obvious, since it was deleted).  Using Git 1.7.1.1 on OS X.</p>
  
  <p>Why doesn't <code>git log -- foo</code> work for me and how can I fix it?  Thanks!</p>