Chicken Reel – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 13

With it being Friday the 13th, (MUAHAHAHA) I had all these plans to do something scary, or maybe the Devil went Down to Georgia, or Satan Take a Holiday. And, that’s not what ended up happening. We went to the bluegrass jam at the Mandolin Cafe in Loveland, CO, and had some fun. * As a side note, the Mandolin Cafe is a fun place to eat and hangout, and eat. Alex (the owner) makes a mean portabello panini, and all of the sandwiches are named after famous mandolin players. Mandolin Cafe is also moving to a new location and will be reopening in May. That said, the closest we got to scary songs is the spinning effect of the camera (operated by my daughter). I hope you don’t get too dizzy while you watch today.

When I saw that Mike Moxie was at the Jam (the 5 string banjo player) I was inspired to play chicken reel. I kicked it off a little too slow for Mike to strut around the circle like Foghorn Leghorn, but we had fun with it nonetheless.

Chicken Reel History and Origins (From Wikipedia)

“Chicken Reel” is a dance tune. It was composed by Joseph M. Daly in 1910. Joseph Mittenthal added lyrics in 1911.

Along with “Turkey in the Straw,” “Chicken Reel” 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).

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.

“Chicken Reel” was arranged for symphony orchestra by Leroy Anderson; his arrangement was recorded by the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1992.

Chicken Reel Lyrics

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’r goin’ crazy answered William with a smile,

But Liza said “Go on you havn’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)