The Most Iconic Songs about Chickens of All Time
23 Clucking Good Songs About Chickens – From Funky Barnyards to Southern Fry
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Whether they’re crossing the road, starring in a folk tale, or sizzling in a skillet, chickens have pecked their way into music history. These songs about chickens span genres from blues, country, and comedy to jazz, hip-hop, and ska—proof that poultry can inspire rhythm, satire, and soul. Some tracks use chickens as metaphors for love, mischief, or rebellion, while others embrace the bird’s barnyard charm head-on.
From the jump blues swagger of Louis Jordan to the viral antics of “Chicken Noodle Soup,” this feathered playlist has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for funny chicken songs, food anthems, or deep-fried funk, this list brings all the clucks, grooves, and giggles you need. Get ready to dance, laugh, and maybe even flap your wings to the best chicken-themed songs ever recorded.
Here’s a fun and eclectic list of 23 songs about chickens, clucking across genres from blues to funk, country, rock, and comedy. Some songs are literal barnyard bops, while others use the chicken as metaphor, rhythm, or comic relief.
#1 “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” by Louis Jordan (1946) – Swing Classic with Barnyard Humor and Jazz Charm
About this song:
- Album: Single (originally released by Decca Records)
- Release Date: July 1946
- Artist: Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five
- Genre: Jump Blues / Swing
- Key Lyric: “One night farmer Brown was takin’ the air / Locked up the barnyard with the greatest of care.”
Louis Jordan’s “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” is one of the most iconic jazz-infused blues songs ever to reference barnyard life. A humorous dialogue between a farmer and his chickens (who are pretending not to be thieves), the song blends witty lyrics, brassy swing arrangements, and Jordan’s signature playful vocal style.
The track became a massive hit in the 1940s and has remained a novelty favorite for decades. It’s a true chicken-themed song with historical jazz roots and sharp social wit.
#2 “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band (2008) – Feel-Good Country Anthem About Simple Living and Southern Comfort
About this song:
- Album: The Foundation
- Release Date: November 18, 2008
- Artist: Zac Brown Band
- Genre: Country / Southern Rock
- Key Lyric: “You know I like my chicken fried / Cold beer on a Friday night.”
“Chicken Fried” celebrates the good life with a hearty serving of food, family, and patriotism. The mention of fried chicken is symbolic of comfort, home, and the things that matter most. With acoustic guitars, tight harmonies, and down-home lyrics, Zac Brown Band turned this song into a country staple.
It’s more than just food—it’s a reflection of Southern identity. A perfect country song about chicken as a symbol of warmth and tradition.
#3 “Do the Funky Chicken” by Rufus Thomas (1970) – Soulful Dance Hit That Launched a Funky Fowl Frenzy
About this song:
- Album: Walking the Dog (reissued version includes the hit)
- Release Date: 1970
- Artist: Rufus Thomas
- Genre: Funk / Soul / R&B
- Key Lyric: “Y’all come on in now / Come right on down front / I got something I want to show you…”
“Do the Funky Chicken” became an instant classic when Rufus Thomas turned poultry into dancefloor gold. With a driving funk groove and comic charisma, Thomas commands listeners to flap their wings and strut like chickens.
The song’s infectious energy made it a party favorite and helped define the Memphis sound of the era. It’s a brilliantly bizarre and irresistibly fun funk song about chickens turned into a full-blown dance craze.
#4 “Chicken Noodle Soup” by Webstar & Young B (2006) – Viral Hip-Hop Track with Street Swagger and Dance Appeal
About this song:
- Album: Webstar Presents: Caught in the Web
- Release Date: 2006
- Artist: DJ Webstar & Young B feat. The Voice of Harlem
- Genre: Hip-Hop / Dance
- Key Lyric: “Let it rain, and clear it out / Chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side.”
This catchy Harlem-born anthem launched a viral dance sensation and introduced the world to a new generation of urban creativity. “Chicken Noodle Soup” references the popular comfort food while embracing a quirky, playful vibe that made it a hit on YouTube and dance floors everywhere.
It’s a quirky and rhythmic hip-hop song about chicken as street culture and personal flavor, blending food, identity, and dance into one iconic hook.
#5 “Little Red Hen” by Taj Mahal (1990) – Bluesy Barnyard Tale with Grit and Humor
About this song:
- Album: Shake Sugaree
- Release Date: 1990
- Artist: Taj Mahal
- Genre: Blues / Folk
- Key Lyric: “I got a little red hen, she won’t lay eggs for me…”
Taj Mahal’s “Little Red Hen” is a humorous, rootsy blues tune that takes the folk tale of the red hen and gives it a funky, storytelling twist. With fingerpicked guitar, rustic vocals, and sly lyrics, the song tells the tale of a stubborn chicken and a frustrated farmer.
Taj’s ability to blend folklore with musical flair makes this track a standout blues song about chickens, storytelling, and Southern wit. A barnyard blues gem that keeps on cluckin’.
#6 “The Chicken” by Jaco Pastorius (1981) – Jazz-Funk Masterpiece with a Groove as Funky as a Coop
About this song:
- Album: Invitation (Live)
- Release Date: 1983 (live release; original composition by Pee Wee Ellis)
- Artist: Jaco Pastorius (originally by Pee Wee Ellis)
- Genre: Jazz Funk / Fusion
- Key Lyric: (Instrumental – groove-driven composition)
Originally penned by James “Pee Wee” Ellis, “The Chicken” was reimagined and made famous in the jazz-fusion world by bass legend Jaco Pastorius. This instrumental track is funky, syncopated, and full of energy—mimicking the unpredictable strut of a barnyard chicken with slapping bass lines and horn stabs.
Often used by jazz musicians to showcase skill, this piece has become a standard for jam sessions. It’s a funky jazz song about chickens in vibe, rhythm, and spirit—even without a single word.
#7 “Henhouse” by Blake Shelton (2011) – Country Comedy with Down-Home Chicken Coop Swagger
About this song:
- Album: Red River Blue (Deluxe Edition)
- Release Date: July 2011
- Artist: Blake Shelton
- Genre: Country
- Key Lyric: “You’re like a fox in my henhouse / Baby, you got me all stirred up.”
“Henhouse” is a cheeky bonus track from Blake Shelton that uses barnyard metaphors to describe love and temptation. The “henhouse” becomes a symbol for emotional vulnerability and romantic mischief. Delivered with Shelton’s signature twang and wit, the song is playful and lighthearted, making it a fun entry in his country catalog.
It’s a country song about chickens used as metaphor for love and chaos, perfect for fans who like a little humor with their heartbreak.
#8 “Fried Chicken” by Nas feat. Busta Rhymes (2008) – Hip-Hop Metaphor for Temptation, Culture, and Craving
About this song:
- Album: Untitled
- Release Date: July 15, 2008
- Artist: Nas feat. Busta Rhymes
- Genre: Hip-Hop / Conscious Rap
- Key Lyric: “Fried chicken, fly vixen / Give me heart disease but need you in my kitchen.”
“Fried Chicken” is a standout track from Nas’s politically charged album Untitled, where he and Busta Rhymes compare the seductive pull of fried food—especially chicken—to that of a dangerous lover. Using chicken as both literal and metaphorical fuel, the track explores desire, addiction, and identity.
With smooth production and double entendres, it’s a clever, layered hip-hop song about chicken as cultural symbol and temptation.
#9 “Chicken Huntin’” by Insane Clown Posse (1995) – Shock-Rap Satire with Southern Gothic Chicken Imagery
About this song:
- Album: Riddle Box
- Release Date: October 10, 1995
- Artist: Insane Clown Posse
- Genre: Horrorcore / Rap Rock
- Key Lyric: “We’re chicken huntin’ – gettin’ all the rednecks!”
Known for their theatrical horrorcore style, ICP uses “chickens” as a slang term for racist rednecks in this controversial, chaotic anthem. “Chicken Huntin’” is part satire, part revenge fantasy, delivered through a grotesque Southern Gothic lens.
Though not about poultry literally, the imagery of hunting chickens plays heavily into the track’s aggressive, bizarre world. It’s a gritty and provocative rap song about chickens used as metaphor in social commentary.
#10 “Chicken Payback” by The Bees (2004) – Retro Revival Funk with Irresistible Chicken Dance Energy
About this song:
- Album: Free the Bees
- Release Date: 2004
- Artist: The Bees (aka A Band of Bees)
- Genre: Indie Rock / Funk Revival
- Key Lyric: “Chicken payback / Chicken payback / Cluck cluck!”
“Chicken Payback” is a playful, 1960s-inspired funk-soul romp by The Bees that sounds like a dance party inside a barnyard. Featuring vintage organs, call-and-response vocals, and irresistible clucks, this quirky tune is pure joy.
Though light on lyrical depth, its groove and novelty factor have made it a cult favorite. It’s an indie funk song about chickens that turns the barnyard into a retro dance floor.
#11 “Chicken Shack Boogie” by Amos Milburn (1947) – Boogie-Woogie Blues That Started a Poultry Party
About this song:
- Album: Originally released as a single on Aladdin Records
- Release Date: 1947
- Artist: Amos Milburn
- Genre: Boogie-Woogie / Jump Blues
- Key Lyric: “Come on down to the chicken shack / You can get what you want and never look back.”
This classic boogie-woogie track by Amos Milburn was a jukebox favorite in the late ’40s and an early influence on rock ’n’ roll. With a piano-driven groove and sly vocals, “Chicken Shack Boogie” invites listeners to a raucous juke joint where the good times (and chicken legs) never stop.
A celebration of nightlife, rhythm, and fried food, it’s a defining blues song about chickens and roadhouse revelry. The track became so popular that “chicken shack” became shorthand for party spots across the South.
#12 “Chicken Song” by Cibo Matto (1996) – Experimental Indie Pop with Surreal Chicken Imagery
About this song:
- Album: Viva! La Woman
- Release Date: March 1996
- Artist: Cibo Matto
- Genre: Indie Pop / Trip-Hop
- Key Lyric: “The chicken is tasteless / So try the beef.”
Cibo Matto’s “Chicken Song” is a quirky and offbeat entry in their food-themed debut album. The lyrics weave absurd culinary imagery into abstract metaphors, with chicken symbolizing blandness, conformity, or perhaps cultural critique.
With hypnotic beats and unpredictable samples, the song is a hallmark of the band’s experimental sound. It’s a surreal indie pop song about chickens, food, and avant-garde expression, perfect for listeners who like their playlists unpredictable and a little weird.
#13 “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)” by Little Walter (1957) – Blues Classic That Mentions Chicken Heads in the Heat of Passion
About this song:
- Album: Released as a single on Checker Records
- Release Date: 1957
- Artist: Little Walter
- Genre: Chicago Blues
- Key Lyric: “She likes to boogie real low with her chicken head.”
Although the song isn’t about poultry per se, the term “chicken head” appears in this sultry blues anthem. “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)” is a high-octane performance featuring Little Walter’s explosive harmonica playing and commanding vocal style.
The chicken reference adds a flash of colorful slang to the song’s flirtatious, rough-edged energy. It’s a gritty and unforgettable blues song with a chicken-flavored metaphor tossed in for style and swagger.
#14 “I’m a Little Chicken” by Sharon, Lois & Bram (1981) – Whimsical Kids’ Song Full of Feathers and Fun
About this song:
- Album: One, Two, Three, Four, Live!
- Release Date: 1981
- Artist: Sharon, Lois & Bram
- Genre: Children’s Music / Folk
- Key Lyric: “I’m a little chicken / Sitting on an egg / I’m a little chicken / With a little leg.”
This sweet and silly song by beloved Canadian children’s entertainers Sharon, Lois & Bram brings the barnyard to life with gentle rhythms and friendly farmyard storytelling. Designed for preschoolers, “I’m a Little Chicken” delights with simple rhymes, cheerful repetition, and opportunities for movement.
It’s a lighthearted children’s song about chickens for early learners and animal lovers, charming generations with its cozy, egg-centric lyrics.
#15 “Chick Chick” by Wang Rong Rollin (2014) – Viral EDM Track with Absurd Chicken Clucks and Internet Fame
About this song:
- Album: Standalone Single
- Release Date: November 2014
- Artist: Wang Rong Rollin
- Genre: Electronic Dance / Novelty Pop
- Key Lyric: “Chick chick chick chick chick chick cluck!”
“Chick Chick” is one of the most bizarre and unforgettable viral hits to emerge from the mid-2010s. With a hyperactive EDM beat and a chorus of animal sounds—including repeated chicken clucks—this track by Chinese pop singer Wang Rong Rollin became a YouTube sensation.
Though it’s difficult to interpret lyrically, the song’s sheer strangeness and animated visuals earned it cult status. It’s an undeniably strange yet memorable chicken-themed EDM song that clucks its way into internet history.
#16 “I Love Chickens” by Parry Gripp (2010) – Hilarious Pop-Punk Ode to Poultry Obsession
About this song:
- Album: Do You Like Waffles?
- Release Date: 2010
- Artist: Parry Gripp
- Genre: Children’s Pop / Comedy Rock
- Key Lyric: “I love chickens / They’re my favorite animals.”
Parry Gripp, the king of catchy novelty tunes, delivers a feathered frenzy of joy in “I Love Chickens.” Known for silly, snack-themed songs that go viral on YouTube, Gripp brings humor and hyper energy to this light-hearted anthem.
The song’s repetitive chorus and bouncy rhythm make it perfect for kids, memes, and chicken fans alike. With tongue firmly in beak, it’s a funny chicken song for children and internet culture lovers, celebrating poultry in its purest, peppiest form.
#17 “Chicken Train” by Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1974) – Southern Rock Jam with Harmonica Clucks and Country Flair
About this song:
- Album: The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Release Date: December 1974
- Artist: The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
- Genre: Southern Rock / Country Rock
- Key Lyric: “Chicken train runnin’ all day / I can’t get on, I can’t get off.”
“Chicken Train” is a twangy, harmonica-driven stomp from the Ozark Mountain Daredevils that leans into surreal country poetry and infectious energy. Though the lyrics are cryptic, the chicken imagery and clucking sound effects give the song a rustic, whimsical flavor.
Part psychedelic jam and part hillbilly hoedown, it’s a standout in the band’s catalog. This is a Southern rock song about chickens wrapped in mysticism and moonshine vibes.
#18 “Chicken Reel” – Traditional Fiddle Tune (Public Domain) – Classic Barn Dance Favorite Full of Old-Time Charm
About this song:
- Album: Various traditional recordings (early 1900s–present)
- Release Date: First published in 1910
- Artist: Traditional / Public Domain
- Genre: Folk / Bluegrass / Country Dance
- Key Lyric: (Instrumental – fiddle melody)
“Chicken Reel” is a beloved American fiddle tune often used in square dances, cartoons, and comedic farm scenes. With its fast tempo and clucking-like melody, the tune mimics the frantic movement of chickens running around a yard.
Though purely instrumental, it’s deeply embedded in pop culture thanks to its use in Looney Tunes and slapstick comedy. This is a classic instrumental chicken song that defined cartoon farm soundtracks and fiddle festivals alike.
#19 “The Egg and I” by Rhett & Link (2013) – Comic YouTube Ballad About Chickens, Breakfast, and Existential Crisis
About this song:
- Album: Standalone YouTube release
- Release Date: March 2013
- Artist: Rhett & Link
- Genre: Comedy / Folk Pop
- Key Lyric: “The egg and I / We used to be tight / Until breakfast came and cracked us apart.”
YouTube comedy duo Rhett & Link created “The Egg and I” as a tongue-in-cheek breakup ballad between man and chicken byproduct. Mixing smooth guitar with absurdist lyrics, the song explores heartbreak, scrambled identities, and the pain of separating from one’s breakfast.
With visual gags and slick harmonies, it’s a funny song about chickens and eggs told as an emotional breakup story. Perfect for fans of parody music and poultry puns.
#20 “Eat More Chicken” by Tim Wilson (1996) – Southern Comedy Track That Turns Fast Food Into Fried Philosophy
About this song:
- Album: Gettin’ My Mind Right
- Release Date: 1996
- Artist: Tim Wilson
- Genre: Country Comedy
- Key Lyric: “Eat more chicken, eat it every day / Eat more chicken and throw the pork away.”
“Eat More Chicken” is a hilarious country tune by comedian Tim Wilson that delivers Southern wisdom through a poultry-centered philosophy. The song satirizes dietary choices, Chick-fil-A slogans, and bacon trends in equal measure.
With its drawling delivery and banjo backdrop, it’s a light-hearted country comedy song about chickens as a superior food group. A cult favorite for Southern comedy fans and lovers of absurd food logic.
#21 “Chicken Gravy and Biscuits” by Tennessee Ernie Ford (1950s) – Down-Home Gospel-Style Tune About Southern Comfort Food
About this song:
- Album: Various compilations of early Capitol Records singles
- Release Date: Circa 1950s (exact year varies by release)
- Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford
- Genre: Country / Gospel / Comedy
- Key Lyric: “Chicken gravy and biscuits, that’s what I like for my supper.”
This whimsical country gospel tune from Tennessee Ernie Ford is a celebration of simple pleasures—chief among them, chicken gravy and biscuits. Delivered with Ford’s trademark bass-baritone charm, the song blends humor, Southern hospitality, and a food-centric chorus that makes it instantly memorable.
It’s a cheerful, toe-tapping country song about chickens, comfort food, and rural joy, perfect for lovers of vintage Americana and homestyle cooking themes.
#22 “Chicken in Black” by Johnny Cash (1984) – Bizarre Country Novelty Track Featuring Brain Transplants and Poultry Hijinks
About this song:
- Album: Single release (later appeared on compilation albums)
- Release Date: 1984
- Artist: Johnny Cash
- Genre: Country / Novelty
- Key Lyric: “The brain of a man named Red was put into my head / But the brain of mine was put in a chicken.”
“Chicken in Black” is perhaps the strangest song in Johnny Cash’s discography—and one he later admitted regretting. A satirical story song about brain-swapping experiments that end with Cash’s brain implanted into a chicken, the track is a country oddity full of sci-fi absurdity and barnyard chaos.
Though its humor was divisive, it’s undeniably memorable. This is a one-of-a-kind novelty song about chickens that blends country with surreal comedy.
#23 “Rubber Chicken” by The Aquabats (2011) – High-Energy Ska Punk Anthem for Poultry and Playfulness
About this song:
- Album: Hi-Five Soup!
- Release Date: January 18, 2011
- Artist: The Aquabats
- Genre: Ska Punk / Comedy Rock
- Key Lyric: “I want a rubber chicken / One I can squeeze and make it scream!”
The Aquabats deliver superhero-sized silliness in “Rubber Chicken,” a hyper ska-punk track dedicated to one of the silliest props in comedy. Combining crashing guitars, horns, and cartoonish lyrics, the song celebrates the joy of absurdity, childhood, and poultry-shaped toys.
It’s a riotous, ridiculous punk song about chickens that doesn’t take itself seriously—and that’s the whole point. A fitting closer to a list full of feathers, funk, and fun.
Final Thoughts on Songs About Chickens
Chickens might not seem like music icons, but these 23 songs prove otherwise. Whether they’re inspiring old-school blues riffs, country storytelling, surreal comedy, or barnyard dance moves, chickens have earned their place in pop culture’s playlist.
These tracks show that even the most humble creature can be a symbol of freedom, humor, rebellion—or just really great eating. If you’re building a quirky playlist or just celebrating the weird and wonderful world of music, these chicken songs are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
