KING CHANTICLEER
(Music: Nat Ayer / Lyrics: A. Seymour Brown)
Prince's Band (Instr.) - 1912
Arthur Pryor's Band (Instr.) - 1912
International Novelty Quartet - 1934
Doris Day (feat. in the film "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon") - 1953
Prof. Albert White & The Gaslight Orch. (Instr,) - 1957
Clancy Hayes & The Salty Dogs - 1964
Ian Whitcomb & Dick Zimmerman - 1982
Also recorded by:
Lu Watters; Tom Hart & Chanticleer; Collin Bates Trio; Turk Murphy;
Frank Vignola; Dutch Dixie Machine; Hot Frogs Jumping Jazz Band;
Johnny Maddox; Melinda Schneider ........ and others.
ORIGINAL LYRICS:
When the Sun begins to rise
And you see the light in the Eastern skies
You hear a rooster crow
No doubt you've often wondered why
If you've wakened by his morning cry
The truth you ought to know
Down in the barn yard where all is still
Each day at dawn comes the call so shrill.
It echoes back from the neighb'ring hill
"I am King Chanticleer!"
When his mighty voice is heard
Then ev'ry farmyard beast and bird
You'll notice will appear
Then comes a sight that makes you stare
Answering calls come from ev'rywhere
See all the animals gather there
To pay homage to their King
Round the barnyard goes the mighty cavalcade
Gorgeously arrayed, see them on parade
All the animals assemble there
As the break of day draws near
All the crickets, bees and birds upon the wing
All commence to sing, hear the chorus ring
All their voices raise and they acclaim the praise
Of Chanticleer
Sudden silence reigns without
King Rooster calmly struts about
The cat makes her report
She proudly carries from the house
Another fat and thieving mouse
To try before the court
Poor Mister Mouse heaves a pensive sigh
He can't escape, there's no use to try
He knows that he'll be condemned to die
By King Chanticleer
The dog who sits at the King's right hand
Now growls, so he can understand
For he's the barnyard stage
Then the duck leads the mouse away
Death is the penalty he must pay
And now the guinea hen has much to say
But the world rolls on again
Round the barnyard goes the mighty cavalcade
Gorgeously arrayed, see them on parade
All the animals assemble there
As the break of day draws near
All the crickets, bees and birds upon the wing
All commence to sing, hear the chorus ring
All their voices raise and they acclaim the praise
Of Chanticleer
********************
As recorded by DORIS DAY for the soundtrack of
the film "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" (1953):
When the Sun begins to rise
And you see a light in the Eastern skies
You'll hear a rooster crow
All the animals appear
When they hear that cry of Chanticleer
They're up and on the go
"Howdy there folks, say, how'ya been"
"Good mornin' ladies, my, aren't we thin"
"Hi there fella, let me see that grin"
Time for the Jubilee
Round the barnyard goes the mighty cavalcade
Gorgeously arrayed, see them on parade
All the animals assemble there
As the break of day draws near
All the crickets, birds and bees upon the wing
Soon begin to sing, hear the chorus ring
Though they often try, they never beat the cry
Of Chanticleer
See the turkey Chicken Reel without a care
And the chicken there do the Grizzly Bear
While the goat begins to Castle Walk
Till you want to stand and cheer
When the ducks begin to do the Turkey Trot
They get plenty hot, give it all they got
But they can't compete with the struttin' feet
Of Chanticleer
(When the crickets, birds and bees upon the wing)
(All begin to sing, hear the chorus ring)
(Though they often try, they never beat the cry)
(Of Chanticleer)
Oh, life is fine when you rise and shine
With the king of the barnyard
(Animal noises)
King Chanticleer
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2020)
