Lyr Req: A Chicken Ain't Nothin' but a Bird

Subject: Chicken
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 09 Nov 00 - 07:05 PM

Hey kids.

About ten years ago, when I was in college, I used to see these two guys play a song called Chicken. I'm pretty sure that they didn't write it. It had a slight ragtime feel to it. Here are some of the words:

You can roast 'em
Boil or broil 'em
Cook 'em in a pan or a pot
You can serve 'em with potatoes
Rice or tomatoes
But chicken is still what you got

It was a dish for old Caesar
King Arthur & King Henry the Third
You can call it what you wish
But when you lay it on the dish
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird

Anybody? If you know the chords as well, that'd be great. But if I can at least get the lyrics, I can muddle through.

Thanks, eh.
Paul.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: GUEST,Paul S at work
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:11 PM

Refresh

This song popped into my head the other day, and is driving me nuts. Please help.

Paul.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: Quincy
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:48 PM

Paul,
Have searched and searched....nothing so far....

We don't give up that easily though!

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 10:58 PM

If in USA, what State? What College? Recall either Name?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: GUEST,Becky
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 12:39 AM

The Chicken Song, written by Jay Ungar (of Ashokan Farewell fame), copyright 1986, Swinging Door Music. Jeff Warner and Jeff Davis do it on their "Old Time Songs for Kids" cassette (Warner and Davis 101, 1989). If I get some sleep tonight, I might transcribe it tomorrow, but can't get you the tune...

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 10:27 AM

Hey Guest.

I went to Sor Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario.


Hey Becky.

That'd sure be swell. Thanks!

Paul

Subject: Lyr Add: CHICKEN SONG (Jay Ungar)
From: GUEST,Becky
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 04:08 PM

Well, what I got from Jeff & Jeff doesn't correspond exactly, but does seem to be the same song:

CHICKEN SONG
Jay Ungar (c) 1986 Swinging Door Music BMI

In these inflationary times some folks got lots of bread,
But we're still paying through the nose just to keep our family fed.
We tried to change our diet and get something cheaper to eat,
We're eatin' lots more chicken now, and a whole lot less red meat.

CHORUS: It's chicken, chicken, put 'em in a pot,
Cook 'em up most any way,
Tell you what you got: (What?)
Chicken in a pot.

When you go to the butcher just to get yourself that bird,
Make sure you got the whole thing, 'cause you can use it all, I've heard.
You can cook the eggs, and gnaw the bones, and eat up all of that meat,
Stuff a pillow with the feathers, and make a soup out of the feet.

Well, eatin' all these chickens, I'm sure that it's a sin.
It seems their lives have just begun before we do them in.
I been doin' a little calculatin' and I'll tell you right now,
It takes 523 chickens just to make up one old cow.

Well, I've had 'em fried, broiled, braised, curried, baked, and creamed,
Cordon bleu'd, and barbecued. I can see them in my dreams:
Croquette, cutlet, almondine, paprikash, and fricassee.
It's time to switch to tofu and set your chickens free.

~ Becky in Tucson

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Aug-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: Oversoul
Date: 11 Nov 00 - 08:28 PM

Frank Stokes, see? Why piss around?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 12 Nov 00 - 08:07 AM

Hey Becky.

Nope. That isn't it. Thanks for the effort, though.

Paul

Subject: Lyr Add: A CHICKEN AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A BIRD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 09:17 AM

A CHICKEN AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A BIRD
Written by Emmet "Babe" Wallace
As recorded by Cab Calloway

Chicken!
Nice fried chicken!
Barbecued chicken!
Won't you send it down the line?

Say!
Ever'one's talking 'bout chicken.
Chicken's a popular word.
But anywhere you go, you're bound to find,
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird.

Some folks call it a fowl.
That's the story I heard,
But let 'em call it this, and let 'em call it that,
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird.

You can boil it, roast it, broil it,
Cook it in a pan or a pot,
Eat it with potatoes, rice, or tomatoes,
Chicken's still what you got, boy!

It was a dish for old Caesar,
Also King Henry the Third,
But Columbus was smart, said, "You can't fool me.
A chicken ain't nothin' but a bird."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
From: greg stephens
Date: 10 Nov 05 - 09:57 AM

Well done, Jim. Sometimes takes Mudcat seven minutes, sometimes seven years, but we get there in the end.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
From: DADGBE
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 12:32 PM

Well, it took a while but here's another reference -
It's cut 2 on The Canote Brothers CD, Thinga-Ma-Jig. The Canote Brothers are a Seattle based duo of identical twins also known as The Small Wonder String Band. They're great!

Don't know where you'd find the CD, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 12:21 AM

BTW, the Jef & Jeff cassette has just now made it to CD. Good music.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: testpattern
Date: 12 Apr 12 - 02:34 PM

A few links of interest:

Some photos of Babe Wallace

Perhaps one of the definitive recordings of this text.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: GUEST,Paul S
Date: 04 Jun 12 - 10:47 PM

testpattern, you're a star! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: KT
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 01:01 AM

Here ya go Paul S. (if you're still around here!) I suspect this is what you're looking for.

The Canotes are great musicians and wonderful people! LOTS of fun!   You can order their CDs from their website. All good!
Enjoy!
KT

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Chicken
From: KT
Date: 05 Jun 12 - 01:13 AM

Check out their web page here.
Be sure to click on the radio dial.