From the musical “The Never Homes”, 1911.
Words and music by James Brockman.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1. A thousand miles south upon a great big farm
A thousand young chicks down in a great big barn
Big Chanticleer, the rooster, leads them one and all
Before their early breakfast, makes his early call
Cau, cau, cau, cau, get up it’s time to rise
Cau, cau, cau, cau, come on and exercise
Oh, you chicken bear, follow me the leader Chanticleer
Chorus:
Chick, chick, chick, chick, come do the chicken rag
Chick, chick, chick, chick, don’t let your foot-lets drag
Flap your wings and wiggle, behave don’t dare to giggle
Come and dance, come and prance
Chick, chick, chick, chick, go on and loop the loop
Chick, chick, chick, chick, don’t dare to fly the coop
Yay bou I think I’m going to crow
That’s the chick, chick, chicken rag
2. A thousand days past upon a great big farm
A thousand new chicks down in the great big barn
Bug Chanticleer was limping, he grew old and small
He came and said, Good morning, this is my last call
Cau, cau, cau, cau, get someone in my place
Cau, cau, cau, cau, I cannot go the pace
One big rooster bear said, I’ll take the place of Chanticleer