The Chicken Wire Song

by Shawn K. Inlow

I woke up this morning thinking of a favorite old joke and I was actually singing a version of it upon waking. I can't translate that to you without sounding like an idiot, but you might be familiar with the song "Cotton-Eyed Joe." For me, it was more informed by "Chicken Train Stomp," by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, which... honestly... you should listen to. I was probably the only kid in Clearfield Area High School in the late 1970s with an Ozark Mountain Daredevils record. Anyway, I took an hour or so and jotted this down this morning and thought I'd share it out with you all. I'm gonna send this to my song-writing partner, Steve Dixon, and see if we can't make a StoneMan song out of it. I would love it to turn out like some real Appalachian stuff or like that kind of a "stomp" or even an uptempo shit-kicker like "Cotton-Eyed Joe." Honestly, too, there's a singer-songwriter I've come across a few times name of Coltt Winter Lepley who, also, you should listen to. Chicken Wire Song by Shawn K. Inlow

Johnny come down the road one time

A length of chicken wire runnin’ off behind

Why’d a young boy do somethin’ like that

Past the porch where Farmer Brown retired

Said “What ‘cha gone do wi’ that chicken wire

Said Farmer Brown from the rockin’ chair

In the shade where he done sat

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Gone ketch some chickens wi’ chicken wire

Gone fry em up in a grease pan

On a camp fire just like that

Y’ don’t ketch no chickens wi’ chicken wire

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Cain’t ketch no chickens wi’ chicken wire

Son, everyone knows that.

Later on when the sun go down

Here come Johnny past Farmer Brown

Had chickens tangled up as that boy sang

Farmer Brown said I’ll be dang

Ya done caught them chickens wi’ that there thing

As Johnny walked down the road

The farmer heard him sing

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Done caught me chickens in chicken wire

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Sure that boy did sing.

Next day, Johnny Boy was traipsin’ by

Wi’ a roll of old duct tape and

Farmer Brown said what ‘cha gone do wi’ that

He said Farmer Brown, now jus’ you wait

I’m gone ketch some ducks wi’ this ol’ duct tape

He tol’ Farmer Brown in the rockin’ chair

In the shade where he was at

Ole duct tape, Ole duct tape

Gone ketch me ducks wi’ ole duct tape

Gone fry ‘em up in a grease pan

In a campfire just like that

Cain’t ketch no ducks with no duct tape

No duct tape, no duct tape

Ya don’t ketch no ducks with no duct tape

Son everyone knows that

Later on when the sun go down

Here come Johnny from the edge o’ town

Had half a dozen ducks as that boy sang

Farmer Brown said I’ll be an ape

Ya done caught them ducks wi’ that ole’ duct tape

Johnny went down the road again

And the farmer heard him sing

Ole duct tape, ole duct tape

Done caught me ducks wi’ ole duct tape

Ole duct tape, ole duct tape

That country boy did sing

Next day Johnny came by at six

Johnny was carryin’ a bunch a sticks

Farmer Brown said what ‘cha gone do wi’ that

I swear, said Johnny, from my head to my toes…

(spoken/ music stops) These ain’t sticks… These is pussy-willows…

Farmer Brown got off his chair

Said, “Son, lemme get my hat!’

-lead break-

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Gone ketch some chickens wi’ chicken wire

Gone fry em up in a grease pan

On a camp fire just like that

Ya can ketch some chickens wi’ chicken wire

Chicken wire, chicken wire

Ya can ketch some chickens wi’ chicken wire

Son, everyone knows that.

Yeah, you didn't see that third verse coming down Fifth Avenue, right? I hope all your days are good today and I hope this post brings a smile or a little chuckle. Our best days are ones where we share a laugh to brighten the way. Much love. And until next time, Enjoy!