Origins: Under the Chicken Tree

Subject: RE: Origins: Under the Chicken Tree
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 13 - 10:24 PM

ANother alternate line: It filled me with delight.

Jim Kweskin sings this on the "Texas Sheiks" CD, a wonderful rendition!
Suzy T.

Subject: Lyr Add: UNDER THE CHICKEN TREE (Jones/Mills)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 11:09 PM

UNDER THE CHICKEN TREE
Words by Irving Jones; music by Kerry Mills; ©1908.
As recorded by Earl McDonald Louisville Jug Band, Columbia 14206D, 3/30/27.

VERSE: I had a dream last night.
It almost turned me white.*
I dreamt that hens and roosters growed on trees.
I dreamt I owned a great big ranch.
On every hen-tree branch,
The eggs was just as thick as bumblebees.
I stepped out in the yard
And shook one tree right hard,
And about one hundred fowls come tumblin' down.
Just as soon as they had died,
I had them quickly fried
With the gravy oozing out all nice and brown.

CHORUS: It was under the chicken tree,
Under the big fricassee.
Eggs was droppin' from every blossom.
I lost all my taste for the meat they call possum.
Cows, hogs, ever' little thing
Looked like feather, chicken, and wing.
Eggs was droppin'.
Wings were floppin',
Under the chicken tree.


[* Maria Muldaur sings "It turned me ghostly white."]

Subject: RE: Origins: Under the Chicken Tree
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 05 Jul 13 - 05:15 PM

Decided to add the link by the Antipodean Serenaders.   If one is impatient to hear the music, you might skip ahead about three minutes. Although one might appreciate the presong commentary. I was intrigued by the singer's accent. It sounded much like what I heard in Tidewater, Virginia in my early years.

Antipodean Serenaders

Subject: Origins: Under the Chicken Tree
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 05 Jul 13 - 04:52 PM

I expected to find a thread on this song already, but lacking that, I am curious. It has been performed and recorded by Geoff and by Maria Muldaur among others including some old time jug bands. I did not find lyrics to "Under the Chicken Tree" but there are several youtube videos including the link below.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceuRFMflaD8