Golden Hen
Tenor Saw Lyrics
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My golden hen, my golden hen
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
She layin' eggs for the gentlemen
Sometime nine and sometime ten, oh
And whenever she lay, she make an alarm
Cotcotcotcot me lay out, lay out, whoa
Lay out, whoa, whoa
Searching from morning for my golden hen, hey
Got a little girl at my home
She wake up this morning, she didn't eat no breakfast, no
She wake up this morning, she no eat no breakfast
She leave at my home and she faint in the cab
She gives my neighbourhood a lots of remarks
Lots of remarks, she gives him lots of remarks
Lots of remarks, it was not my fault
When she faint in the cab (Lord God know)
Hey little girl don't be like a rolling calf, oh
Before the wind you gonna be like a chaff
If you live like a rolling calf, no oh
Don't live like a rolling calf, no
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
She layin' eggs for the gentlemen
Sometime nine and sometime ten, whoa-oh
Whenever she lay, Lord, she make an alarm
Cotcotcotcot me lay out, lay out, lay out
Lay out, whoa, lay out, whoa
But I've been searching from morning
For my golden hen, whoa
Well, I've been searching from morning, morning
For my golden hen
Because she's my best friend
Because she's my best friend
Searching from morning, morning
Because she's my best friend, whoa-oh, whoa
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
Come on back, come on back
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
Come on back, Lord, come on back
Whoa-oh, I beg you please come on back, girl, so
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
She layin' eggs for the gentlemen
Sometime nine and sometime ten, whoa-oh
And whenever she lay, she make an alarm
Cotcotcotcot me lay out, me lay out
Lay out whoah, lay out, whoa
Girl, you know that I love you badly
I wouldn't like to end up sadly
Girl, you know that I love you badly
I wouldn't like to end up sadly
Girl, come on, girl come on
Don't be a run around, don't be a run around
Please come home
(.)
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
She layin' eggs for the gentlemen
Sometime nine and sometime ten, whoa-oh
Whenever she lay, she make an alarm, whoa-oh.
The lyrics of Tenor Saw's song "Golden Hen" can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the listener's point of view. However, the song introduces a character with a beloved "golden hen," laying eggs for the "gentlemen" and making an alarm every time an egg is laid. The singer mentions how he has been searching since morning for his precious hen, which seems to have gone missing. He mentions a girl who comes to his home; she faints in the cab and gives remarks to his neighborhood, but he asserts that her fainting was not his fault. The singer advises the girl not to live "like a rolling calf," before the wind, or she will be like a chaff. The song ends with the plea for the hen to come back home and the affirmation of the singer's love for the girl.
The song "Golden Hen" is a classic reggae song released in 1985 that has become an enduring hit, featuring prominently in many music compilations and being a favorite for sound systems. Here are ten interesting facts about the song:
Line by Line Meaning
Tic a tic a toc, tic a tic a toc
The sound of a clock ticking, used as a musical intro.
My golden hen, my golden hen
The singer's affectionate term for his beloved, egg-laying hen.
Tic a tic a toc, my golden hen
The sound of the clock ticking reminds the singer of his cherished hen.
She layin' eggs for the gentlemen
The singer's hen produces eggs which he sells to paying customers.
Sometime nine and sometime ten, oh
The number of eggs produced per day by the hen ranges from nine to ten.
And whenever she lay, she make an alarm
The hen squawks loudly after laying an egg, announcing to her owner that he can collect it.
Cotcotcotcot me lay out, lay out, whoa
The hen's distinctive squawk is mimicked by the singer as a playful vocalization.
Searching from morning for my golden hen, hey
The singer spends his day looking for his lost hen.
Got a little girl at my home
The singer has a young daughter living with him.
She wake up this morning, she didn't eat no breakfast, no
The daughter didn't eat breakfast that morning.
She wake up this morning, she no eat no breakfast
Reinforcing that the daughter skipped breakfast.
She leave at my home and she faint in the cab
The daughter left the house and fainted in a taxi (presumably from hunger).
She gives my neighbourhood a lots of remarks
The daughter talks negatively about the neighborhood after her fainting spell.
Lots of remarks, she gives him lots of remarks
Reinforcing the daughter's complaining nature.
Lots of remarks, it was not my fault
The singer is defensive about his daughter's criticisms, feeling that he is not responsible for her fainting.
When she faint in the cab (Lord God know)
The singer expresses his confusion and concern over his daughter's fainting spell.
Hey little girl don't be like a rolling calf, oh
The singer implores his daughter not to act recklessly or foolishly.
Before the wind you gonna be like a chaff
If his daughter doesn't change her ways, she will be easily blown around by the whims of others.
If you live like a rolling calf, no oh
Continuing to emphasize the importance of avoiding reckless behavior.
Don't live like a rolling calf, no
Final plea to his daughter to be more cautious and responsible.
Come on back, come on back
The singer pleads for his lost hen to return home.
Whoa-oh, I beg you please come on back, girl, so
Reinforcing his desire for his hen to come home.
Girl, you know that I love you badly
Addressing his hen, the singer expresses his strong affection for her.
I wouldn't like to end up sadly
The singer fears for the worst if his hen does not return to him.
Don't be a run around, don't be a run around
The singer asks his hen to not wander off.
Please come home
The singer repeats his plea for his hen to return.
Contributed by Anthony Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alextreasurehunter3811
@@AS-wj1du I don't remember every little detail but he would have to have a tour manager because of logistics and networking involved in touring. This was a hit like Tupac east coast /west coast thing and he was killed under the assumption he was going to buy drugs and return before anyone noticed . I live on a small island in the Caribbean and all this is no mystery.
You ever heard of the band called Twinkle Brothers? They formed in 1962 and i have been listening to them for decades. They use the term Jahovia and since a kid i used that term. I am white from Babylon but raised by Jamaicans.
Check out the songs:
THE TWINKLE BROTHERS - SINCE I THROW THE COMB AWAY
and
Faith can move mountains
@jazmar0822
+Jowan Robert The song is about an actual Hen that lay eggs, he says golden hen not
because it's a gold color, gold is just used to show its value in his
life. "Have a little girl of my own she didn't eat no breakfast" that's
because he couldn't find the Hen. The little girl fainted because she
didn't eat, he says don't be like a rolling calf meaning he doesn't want
her to die. In Jamaican folklore a rolling calf is a spirit/ghost. It's
"She lays eggs for the gentleman", not she lays next to the gentlemen.
The song is not about a woman it's about a hen that provides for him and
his little girl, he relies on it to feed him and his little girl in the
mornings. "Whenever she lays she makes an alarm cock cock mi lay o.
@ocase1000
2023 ....and it still has relevance in grass roots dancehall. From this to chapping and dunce .....jah know how far we have fallen
@slaphead8227
the dislikes are people who know jack shit about how this tune tore up dance halls around 1985
@jayackshun9431
slap head probably golden hens as well lol
@bornfromforeign
You mean 80 boss
@sethcaro76
slap head if you can’t feel this riddim then check your feelers! Haha
@mennis316
Well said i could not have put it better
@brummiecrf250l5
Top memories of this classic from mid 80s blues parties in Birmingham..... I was the only white boy in there. Great Times, great tunes and great people..... wheel up wheel up!!!
@IbnZebbug
Same but in London and Libya but I'm Arab Malta
@SHINES0072
This dude was a special talent in dancehall music. RIP
@mrcjrowe
Only a G like Tenor Saw can make a song about a hen sound hard !!! Lol Brap !