gistfile1.txt

Why is git treating these two files differently, and why is the status
changing in between 'status' and 'commit'?  I want to ensure that the
history of gcc47/buildlink3.mk is preserved.

Irrelevant lines have been omitted.  

$ git status
# Changes to be committed:
#       renamed:    gcc47/buildlink3.mk -> gcc47-compiler/buildlink3.mk
#       renamed:    gcc47/Makefile -> gcc47/Makefile.common
# Changes not staged for commit:
#       modified:   gcc47-compiler/buildlink3.mk
#       modified:   gcc47/Makefile.common

$ git commit -a
# Changes to be committed:
#       new file:   gcc47-compiler/buildlink3.mk
#       renamed:    gcc47/Makefile -> gcc47/Makefile.common
#       deleted:    gcc47/buildlink3.mk