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Lyr Req: Who Broke the Lock on the Henhouse Door?
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Lyr Req: Who Broke the Lock on the Henhouse Door? |
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Subject: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: chet w. Date: 28 May 98 - 06:47 PM I'm sure somebody must know this one "Who Broke the Lock on the Henhouse Door?" The only source I have is an old field-recorded record called "Country Negro Jam Session" and I can understand only a few words here and there. The chorus goes: "Who broke the lock (I don't know), Who broke the lock on the henhouse door, I'm gonna find out before I go, Who broke the lock on the henhouse door." They tell the story behind the song, which involved a practice of hiding liquor buried in the henhouse, which was then locked. Of course somebody figured this out, hence the song. I'd sure appreciate it. Chet W. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHO BROKE THE LOCK? (Highwoods Stringband From: farris Date: 28 May 98 - 08:33 PM We have it on a recording of the Highwoods String Band (don't know if you can still get it, but if you can, it's amazing!) Here are the lyrics I remember, although from your discription this sounds like this may be a different variation: Said the barnyard rooster to the barnyard hen, "Well, you ain't laid an egg since the Lord knows when." Said the barnyard hen to the barnyard rooster, "Well, you ain't been around as often as you used-ter." Chorus:
Said the barnyard hen to the rooster out West, |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: rich r Date: 28 May 98 - 09:45 PM I have a version of it by the Reel World String Band. I'll check to see if there are any additional verses on that. rich r |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HENHOUSE DOOR (from Joel Mabus) From: dulcimer Date: 29 May 98 - 05:47 AM 1. Hen and rooster went out west. Said hen to rooster, "I love you best." Rooster said, "You're a cock-eyed liar. Caught you in the alley with the big Shanghai."
2. My old hen's a good ol' hen.
3. My ol' rooster's might old.
4. I was down in the henhouse on my knees.
Chorus: Who broke the lock? I don't know. I got this from Old Time Music on the Air Vol. 2--done by Joel Mabus. First time I sang it, a lady near 85 said she remembered it from her childhood. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: Dale Rose Date: 29 May 98 - 08:44 AM A couple of facts with some of my opinions mixed in.
Probably the two most influential (and interesting) recordings were by Riley Puckett and the Bogtrotters. Riley Puckett's version (Riley's Hen House Door) used to be available on County 411. Fields Ward and the Bogtrotters recorded this and other fine examples of string band music for the Library of Congress in sessions from 1937-1940, which were later released on Biograph 6003. Most of the revivalist groups took their cues from these recordings. If you ever see either of these recordings available anywhere, snap them up. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHO BROKE THE LOCK?^^ From: harpgirl Date: 15 Apr 01 - 11:53 PM Who Broke the Lock? as done by The Highwoods String Band
I'se down in the henhouse on my knees |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: Abby Sale Date: 16 Apr 01 - 08:08 PM The all-knowing "Happy!" file says: Cousins & Demoss record "Who Broke the Lock" - It was the 1st significant folk recording on disc= 11/14/1895 |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: Troll Date: 16 Apr 01 - 10:19 PM I bought some Easter eggs for my old hen, 'Cause it was Easter Sunday then. The rooster saw 'em all green and red, Jumped the neighbors fence and shot the peacock dead! I learned this verse from "Cousin Thelma" Boltin who MC'd and ran the Florida Folk Festival for many years. She heard it from "Tiny" Talbot, who had a band that played dances in the Gainesville, Fla. area during the 1930's and appeared on local radio. "Tiny" later became the Superintendant of Schools for Alachua County- a position he held for over 30 years. troll |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: GUEST,Brad Sondahl Date: 17 Apr 01 - 09:09 AM Just thinking about this song myself the other day--I like Riley Puckett's version. But I think I remember this verse, might have imagined it...-- Now Deacon Johnson and Mrs. Jones Used to fool around, when Jones weren't home. He came home one morning bout a quarter to four-- Who went out that back door? http://pages.about.com/bsondahl |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: GUEST,Eluned Date: 17 Apr 01 - 11:32 AM LOL!!!
Troll, I just LOVE that one! |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: harpgirl Date: 17 Apr 01 - 06:30 PM Thanks Troll. I remember Marty Schuman's remarks about Thelma. I never met her. Thanks Abby. What is the happy file? Will look up your site, Brad...hg |
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Subject: Lyr Add: RILEY'S HEN HOUSE DOOR From: Stewie Date: 17 Apr 01 - 10:22 PM Brad, your stanza didn't come from Riley's version. His version is clostest to verses posted by Dulcimer above:
RILEY'S HEN HOUSE DOOR --Stewie. |
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Subject: RE: LYR REQ- who broke the lock From: GUEST,Brad Sondahl Date: 18 Apr 01 - 12:57 AM Okay, then I guess I created it from memory of the song--end up doing that quite frequently from having a fertile imagination and bad memory. Typical folk process. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HENHOUSE DOOR (from Joel Mabus) From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 21 Sep 02 - 01:43 PM From Joel Mabus's site HENHOUSE DOOR |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: who broke the lock From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 21 Oct 03 - 10:34 PM Down in the henhouse on my knees I thought I heard a chicken sneeze Ahh. My grandfather used to say this when I was a wee tiny tot - far too young for my delicate ears to hear the rest of the song... Thanks! Robin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: who broke the lock From: AussieTex Date: 06 Apr 05 - 08:18 AM The song has filtered among country folks Down Under, where we call chickens 'chooks'. I like the original hillbilly versions such as found on www.honkingduck.com. Problem is that for an Aussie some of the lyrics are hard to make out. So any help you can wd be much appreciated by me and my ol' chook. We all speak the same language, but have you noticed that they sub-title Aussie movies? If anybody needs explanations about Aussie songs, please do not hesitate to ask Aussie Tex. I have a cousin in Dallas. She was a war bride and she sent us a Gibson - a real heirloom. Gday from Oz! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHO BROKE THE LOCK ON THE HENHOUSE DOOR From: Jim Dixon Date: 07 Apr 05 - 11:45 PM Here's my transcription of the sound file at Honking Duck: WHO BROKE THE LOCK ON THE HENHOUSE DOOR (As sung by H. M. Barnes & His Blue Ridge Ramblers) 1. I went down to the farmer's gate. I blowed my horn both soon and late. The farmer's dog wouldn't bark or bite, But the son-of-a-gun could read and write. CHORUS: Now, who broke that lock? Well, I don't know. Who broke the lock on the hen house door? And I'll find out before I go, Who broke the lock on the hen house door. 2. Went down to the hen house on my knees. Thought I heard old Bruno sneeze. It was an old rooster saying his prayers, Telling his love to the hens upstairs. 3. The meat's upon the goose, but the marrow's in the bone. The devil's on the hillside. Don't you hear him groan? Turkey's playing seven-up on the melon vine, [seven-up = a card game] Goose chewing tobacco and the duck is drinking wine. 4. Said the barnyard rooster to the barnyard hen, You told me a story and I know when. [story = lie] You said that Sally made her cake all dough, And never mind the weather so the wind don't blow. [so = as long as] 5. Said the barnyard hen to the barnyard rooster, You can't hear near as well as you used ter. I said that Sally had a dress so cute. We could trade her our feathers, get a nickel to boot. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Broke the Lock on the Henhouse Door? From: GUEST Date: 30 Nov 13 - 11:14 AM Wow. That's all I can say. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHO BROKE THE LOCK ON THE HENHOUSE DOOR? From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Nov 13 - 04:58 PM I heard this rather nice western swing version from the 1940s on Spotify: WHO BROKE THE LOCK ON THE HENHOUSE DOOR? As sung by Deuce Spriggins on "100 American Cowboy Classics" (2010) Now, down in the hen-house the other night, Say, it was awful dark and I had no light, So I scrambled around and got hold of a goose. White folks said: "You better turn 'im loose," So I jumped the gullies, Dodged rosebushes, Cannonballs, too. But who broke the lock? (I don't know.) Who broke the lock on the hen-house door? I'll find out before I go, Who broke the lock on the hen-house door. Down in the hen-house on my knees, An' I though I heered a chicken sneeze. Sneezed so hard with the 'hoopin'-cough, Sneezed 'er head 'n' 'er tail right off, And sech a sneezin'! She must 'a' had a terrible cold. Pee-monia set in, Double pee-monia, I reckon. But who broke the lock? (I don't know.) Who broke the lock on the hen-house door? I'll find out aforn I go Who broke the lock on the hen-house door. [Instrumental break] Way up yonder in the Blue Ridge Hills I putten myself up a liquor still. The revenue man comed aroun' by chance, Up and kicked me right 'n the pants. I went slippin', Went slidin', And driftin' down the draw (and driftin' down the draw). Well, they put me in the jailhouse on my knees. All they give me was a pan o' peas. Peas was red 'n' the meat was fat. I got stuck with the jailer just for that, But I got sassy with 'im. Got im-PU-dent, Wanted to fit with him. Wouldn't let me out, though; he hadn't keys, the rascal! But who broke the lock? (I don't know.) Who broke the lock on the hen-house door? I'll find out aforn I go Who broke the lock on the hen-house door. If you want to get to heaven, let me tell you how to do it: Just grease your feet with mutton suet, Slip right out o' that ol' devil's hand And straight into the Promised Land, But go easy. Brother, I'm a-tellin' you, go greasy, Slippin', slidin', Up an' down the mantlepiece, lookin' for cigareet butts, Cigar butts, Chewin' tobacker, Dippin' snuff, Stuff, An' things. But who broke the lock? (I don't know.) Who broke the lock on the hen-house door? I'll find out before I go Who broke the lock on the hen-house door. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Who Broke the Lock on the Henhouse Door? From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Nov 13 - 06:28 PM WHO STOLE THE LOCK FROM THE HEN HOUSE DOOR (sic) As recorded by Otto Gray and his Oklahoma Cowboys on "Serenade the Mountains: Early Old Time Music on Record, CD D" (2006) 1. I went down to the farmer's gate. I blowed my horn both soon and late. The farmer's dog he wouldn't bark nor bite, But that son-of-a-gun, he could read and write. CHORUS: Now who broke that lock? (I don't know.) Who broke the lock on the hen-house door? I'll find out before I go Who broke the lock on the hen-house door. 2. I went down to the hen-house on my knees. I thought I heard old Bruno sneeze, But it was an old rooster a-sayin' his prayers And tellin' his love to the hens upstairs. 3. Oh, the turkey's playin' seven-up on the punkin vine. The hen's a-drinkin' home brew; the rooster's drinkin' wine Way down yonder in old Cedar Bluff Where the geese chew tobacco and the the ducks dip snuff. 4. Said the barnyard hen to the barnyard rooster: "Somehow y'all don't hear quite as well as you used ter." Said the rooster to the hen: "Now, that may be true, But I'd rather be deaf than be dumb like you." 5. Said the barnyard rooster to the barnyard hen: "Y'all told me a story and I'll tell you when: You told me that I was your only beau, And when I asked who broke the lock you said, 'I don't know.'" 6. There was a hen and a rooster livin' way out west. Said the hen to the rooster: "I love you best." Said the rooster to the hen: "I know you're tellin' me a lie. I done and caught you flirtin' with an old Shanghai." |
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