Chicken Reel

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Sheet music cover for "Chicken Reel", 1910.

Chicken Reel is a song about chickens. It was composed by Joseph M. Daly in 1910, and along with Turkey in the Straw, it is probably best known for its use in early animated cartoons as a catchy tune used to represent animal activity. Originally composed as a novelty song, it has since passed into modern folk tradition. Today, the tune is usually played without the words, which would often have been sung in the minstrel style (in stereotyped African-American vernacular).

[edit] Lyrics

(Verse 1)

Way down in Carolina where the sweet potatoes grow

there lives a dancin' maiden by the name of Liza Snow

She used to go to parties where they always made her sing

but SAY you ought to see that lady do the chicken wing

They held a dancing contest and were going to give a prize

They ALL had on their finest and it now was up to Lize

Who was gonna win it everybody there could feel

When Liza hollered to the band to play the Chicken Reel

Clear the crowd away, tell the band to play

when you hear me say go! my honey

(Chorus)

Oh, you chicken reel, how you make me feel

play it really so entrancing who could really keep from dancing

That's the music sweet, like the chicken meat

Give to me with a dressin' I don't need no dancing lesson

Put all the other fine selections right away

that is the only tune I want to hear you play

When I get married its the music I will play

Hey boy, keep playing chicken reel all day

(Verse 2)

One night when from a party she was coming home with Bill

He's a steady fellow and the night was dark and still

I seems he had a chicken and when Liza heard of that

She said I'm gonna wear it on my go-to-meeting hat

I guess you must be crazy answered William with a smile

but Liza said "go on you haven't heard the latest style"

When first she wore it out the people asked her to explain

but Liza simply answered "I've got chicken on the brain"

Clear the crowd away, tell the band to play

when you hear me say go! my honey

[edit] In popular culture

A variation on Chicken Reel is used as the Astro Chicken theme song in the Space Quest series, and it is featured in other Sierra adventure games, such the first Police Quest [1], in scenes featuring a chicken.

The theme has frequently been used in cartoon shorts, such as the Animaniacs and the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons. The theme makes a brief appearance in Gone with the Wind.