Lyrics below are from the sheet music at Mississippi State University.
(There is also an instrumental version CHICKEN REEL, or PERFORMER'S BUCK, by Daly, published in 1910).

The tune will be familiar. Spotify has over 100 recordings. I listened to several, and to parts of many, but I couldn't find a vocal recording.


CHICKEN REEL
Words by Joseph Mittenthal; music by Joseph M. Daly; ©1911.

1. 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:

CHORUS: Clear the crowd away.
Tell the band to play
When yer hear me say "Go," my honey.
Oh, you Chicken Reel!
How you make me feel!
Say, it's really so entrancin',
Who could ever 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."

2. One night when from a party she was walkin' home with Bill—
Now he's her steady feller and the night was dark and still—
It seems he stole a chicken, and when Liza looked at that,
She said: "I'm goin' to 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."