Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Jul 22 - 11:35 AM

starts at 7:15!!

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: cnd
Date: 31 Jul 22 - 11:21 AM

There's an entirely different set of lyrics to the song that I've only found on one recording. From The New Ballards Branch Bog Trotters' CD The Galax Way (1995) are the following lyrics. Unfortunately, the CD's liner notes don't indicate a source for the lyrics, but the impression is that most of the music's source material is the original Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, led by Crockett Ward. Other members of the original group included well-known old time musicians such as Crockett's sons, Fields and Wade Ward, Alex "Eck" Dunford, and Doctor W. P. Davis, as well as Sampson Ward and Walter Alderman on an itinerant basis.

Now, I don't care how I feel
I'm gonna make that chicken reel

Grasshopper settin' on the sweet potato vine
Along come a chicken, and say, she's mine

Cornbread, 'taters, pumpkin pie
Love it all to the day I die

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 15 Nov 14 - 07:28 PM

Mr. BONZ0,

PLEASE take a look, a real thorough look at Mr. RITCHIE, and the amazing collection he has gathered.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

> Hang your tail between your legs...and shuffle away in shame

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Nov 14 - 11:58 AM

Or there's this!!

Chicken Rhythm

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 15 Nov 14 - 10:56 AM

Mr. Ritchie,

That is one AWSOME Website and catalogued collection.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

WOW ! ! ! Amazing.

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: Richie
Date: 15 Nov 14 - 12:40 AM

The "original" words were from John Daly in 1910 and are on my site here: http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/chicken-reel-.aspx

There's also four recordings, one with vocals,

Richie

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: GUEST,dick greenhaus
Date: 14 Nov 14 - 11:34 AM

Back in the late 1940s, when we danced to Chicken Reel, the only words I knew were:
Never trouble trouble 'til trouble troubles you

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: clueless don
Date: 14 Nov 14 - 09:02 AM

So, is it sung to "The Chicken Reel"? or to "Turkey in the Straw"?

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: GUEST,Bethany
Date: 14 Nov 14 - 12:06 AM

Thank you so much. This helps a lot.

Subject: RE: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: maeve
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 06:32 AM

Bethany, I found your family song in an earlier thread of songs about chickens. thread.cfm?threadid=85872
In it, Jim Dixon posted the following:
*************
Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO (Louis Jordan)
From: Jim Dixon - PM
Date: 06 Oct 14 - 07:17 AM

"Several of these phrases are questionable. I'm not sure they're even intended to make sense."

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO
As sung by Louis Jordan, 1951.
Tune: Turkey in the Straw.

1. It's a trick to pick a chicken when the cackle's in the coop.
Some are layin'; some are lyin'; some are labeled chicken soup.
Take a Dominicker rooster or a Dominicker hen
For some ricky-ticky chicken pickin' right from the pen.

CHORUS: Coo-whack-a-do: fricassee or new,
Who-whack-a-doodle, yams and apple strudel,
Out in the country, that's the style,
Sweet as the kisses from a honey chile.

2. When you wake up in the mornin' to the cock-a-doodle-doo,
And you sneak into the chicken shack and pick a chick or two,
Fill the kettle full o' vittles and your griddle papa view(?),
For the fricassee of chickasee, it's only chicken stew. CHORUS

3. Now the farmer's got a gobbler and a gander and a goose,
And a mighty pretty daughter but he'll never turn her loose.
If you like the farmer's daughter, she's a chicken you can steal.
You swing 'er while the fiddle plays a real chicken reel. CHORUS

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
***********
Here's a link to the version Jim mentioned: Louis Jordan - Cock A Doodle Doo

Subject: Origins: Words to 'Chicken Reel'
From: GUEST,Bethany
Date: 21 Oct 14 - 12:30 AM

My family has a set of words that they sing to the song "Chicken Reel" and I am trying to find out where they come from. I know they're at least sixty years old but I can't find anyone who knows this set of lyrics that isn't a family member.

As best as I can recall, the lyrics go like this…
"It's a trick to pick a chicken when they cackle in the coop,
some are laying, some are lying some are labeled 'chicken soup'
Take a dominicker rooster or a dominicker hen,
call it chicassee or fricassee, it's only chicken soup.

Cock a doodle, expect to see your chicken noodle,
out in the country, that's the style
cock a doodle, candy and mine apple strudel
sweeter than the kisses of my honey child

Well, the farmer's got a gobbler and a gander and a goose
and a mighty pretty daughter and he'd never turn her loose
If you like the farmer's daughter she's a chicken you can steal,
if you swing her while the fiddler plays a real chicken real

Cock a doodle, expect to see your chicken noodle,
out in the country, that's the style
cock a doodle, candy and mine apple strudel
sweeter than the kisses of my honey child"

If anyone has any information as to where these lyrics might have come from I would love to hear from you.