Chicken Reel

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Chicken Reel
Composer Joseph Daly
Released 1910-??-??
Title Origin Official

Chicken Reel is novelty song composed by Joseph Daly in 1910 with lyrics written a year later by Joseph Mittenthal. Along with Turkey In the Straw, Chicken Reel became popular as an anthem for cartoon characters.

Games

Police Quest (DOS)

Platform - DOS.png
Police Quest (DOS)
Released 1987-12-??
1992-??-?? (VGA)
Format SCI

At some point during the game, when Sonny Bonds is picking up orders from Sergeant Dooley, there's a chicken flapping about, placed in the room by the Gremlin. The only known format is in PC Speaker. The 1992 VGA remake retains the chicken affair and tune, but has Roland, Yamaha, OPL2, and PC Speaker.

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (DOS)

Platform - DOS.png
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (DOS)
Output - Roland.svg
Output - Tandy.svg
King's Quest 4 - DOS - Rescued Hen.png
Arranger William Goldstein
Released 1988-??-??
Length 0:05.77
Format SCI
Loops Yes

In KQ4, an excerpt of Chicken Reel is heard is you rescue the golden egg-laying chicken you stole from the ogre for Lolotte before you escape from her castle.

Five different types of output were designed for the DOS release, each output corresponds to a different group of devices, the Roland, Yamaha, OPL2, 3 Voice, and PC Speaker.

The file is sound.079 in the resource files, and the song loops.

Other Ports

It is unknown if the Amiga, Apple II, Apple II GS, or Atari ST ports have this song.

Astro Chicken (DOS)

Platform - DOS.png
Astro Chicken (DOS)
Released 1988-??-??
Format SCI

Astro Chicken was an early demo showcasing the game that would appear inside the finished Space Quest III.

Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (DOS)

Platform - DOS.png
Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (DOS)
Output - Roland.svg
Output - OPL2.svg
Output - Philips.svg
Arranger Bob Siebenberg
Released 1989-03-24
Format SCI


Space Quest V: The Next Mutation (DOS)

Platform - DOS.png
Space Quest V: The Next Mutation (DOS)
Arranger Timothy Steven Clarke
Released 1993-??-??
Format SCI

In SQ5 it was used in the pod bay location of Eureka spaceship.


Other Ports

It is unknown if the Amiga, Atari ST, or Macintosh ports have this song.

Lyrics

Although the song has lyrics, no games use them.

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 ev'rybody there could feel,
When Liza hollered to the band to play the Chicken Reel
Clear the crowd away
Tell the band to play
When you hear me say "GO" My honey

Chorus:
Oh, you Chicken Reel, how you make me feel
Say it's really so entrancin'
Who could really 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"

One night when from a party she was walkin' home with Bill
Now he's a steady feller and the night was dark and still
It seems he stoe a chicken and when Liza heard of that,
She said I'm gonna wear it on my go-to-meetin' hat.
I guess you'r 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.
Clear the crowd away
Tell the band to play
When you hear me say "GO" My honey

(Chorus)

Links