WHEN THE TURKEY IN THE STRAW DANCED THE CHICKEN REEL
(J. Will Callahan / F. Henri Klickmann,   1913)


In a barnyard far away, 
All the fowls assembled on a summer day; 
Just to give a barnyard dance, 
Tried to put the farmers in a barnyard trance. 
All the rubes for miles around, 
Came to see them shuffle there upon the ground.

Old Si Jones in overalls, 
Always won the ribbon at the barnyard balls; 
Came that day with Aunt Suzanne,
Frisky as a bullfrog in a fryin' pan. 
Said, "By Gosh, just turn me loose," 
Crack'd his heels together yellin', 
"Come on, Suze."

All the old hens cackled and the young ducks quacked,
And the rooster all began to crow; 
The little chickens stood there in a row, 
"Keep your feet a-movin'," you could hear the farmers yell, 
And the old cow hid behind the old hay stack, 
But the pigs just grunted kind o' low; 
As they stood there lookin' at the show, 
When the turkey in the straw danced the chicken reel.