[WARNING: this fictitious setting in no way resembles reality, then or now. It is presented as musical history.]
A 1911 tribute to an old fiddle tune
words by Joseph Mittenthal
music by Joseph M. Daly
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
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 everybody there could feel
When Liza hollered to the band to play the Chicken Reel
“Clear the crowd away, tell the band to play
When yer hear me say “GO” my honey”
Chorus
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 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”
Sung here by Fred Feild: