"Chicken Reel" is a dance tune. It was composed and published in 1910 by Joseph M. (Michael) Daly (1883–1968), with copyright registered on October 7.[1] Joseph Mittenthal added lyrics three months later, and the texted version was copyrighted on January 12, 1911.[2]
Along with "Turkey in the Straw," "Chicken Reel" is probably one of the best-known poultry-related folk tunes. It is frequently found in early animated cartoons as a catchy tune used to represent farmyard activity, or a gathering of fowl. 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).
Chicken Reel was made popular again years later by Les Paul who recorded the song as a catchy instrumental, whimsically mimicking chicken sounds on his guitar.
Way down in Carolina where the sweet potatoes grow
There lives a dusky maiden by the name of Liza Snow
She used to go to parties where they'd always make her sing,
But say you ought to see that Baby do the pigeon wing.
They held a dancing contest and were goin' to give a prize
They all had on their finest and it now was up to Lize.
Just who was goin' to win it ev'rybody 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 Say it's really so entrancin' Who could really keep from dancin', That's the music sweet, like the chicken meat Give it to me with the dressin' I don't need no dancin' lesson Put all the other fine selections right away That is the only tune I want to hear you play When I get married if there's music I will say "Hey boss keep a-playin' Chicken Reel all day"
One night when from a party she was walkin' home with Bill
Now he's a steady feller and the night was dark and still
It seems he stoe a chicken and when Liza heard of that,
She said I'm gonna wear it on my go-to-meetin' hat.
I guess you're goin' 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 said Why I have chicken on the brain.
Clear the crowd away
Tell the band to play
When you hear me say "GO" My honey (Chorus)
Popular culture
Chicken Reel usually introduces the chicken yard scene in many Foghorn Leghorn cartoons.
A spirited arrangement of Chicken Reel for fiddle and Jew's harp is featured in A Christmas Story when the Bumpus family's bloodhounds swarm Ralphie's father as he arrives home from work.
