Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.
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Chickens
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No eggs would they lay
My wife said honey
This isn't funny, we're losing money
Why don't the little chickens lay
One day a rooster came into our yard
And caught those little chickens
They're laying eggs now just like they used to
Ever since that rooster came into our yard
They're laying eggs now just like they used to
Ever since that rooster came into our yard
Harry Belafonte’s song “Chickens” is a humorous yet insightful commentary on the dynamics of power and influence. The lyrics start by describing a problem many farmers face - their chickens have stopped laying eggs. The singer’s wife is frustrated with the situation, as they are losing money. The singer’s response, however, is a bit different. Rather than wallowing in their misfortune, they pose a question: “Why don’t the little chickens lay?”
The second stanza introduces a solution to the problem. A rooster has entered their yard and caught the chickens off guard. This event has resulted in a significant change - the chickens are now laying eggs again. What is Harry Belafonte trying to say through these playful lyrics? It’s possible that the song is a commentary on the importance of leadership and influence. The rooster represents a leader who can motivate and empower others to do what they need to do. Without the rooster’s influence, the chickens were unable to perform their duty.
Another interpretation could be a commentary on the concept of fear. Chickens are often depicted as skittish and easily frightened animals. In this song, they are unable to lay eggs without the rooster’s presence. This could represent the idea that fear can paralyze us and prevent us from fulfilling our potential. The absence of fear - in this case, due to the rooster’s presence - allows us to take action and achieve our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
We had some chickens
We owned a few domestic fowl
No eggs would they lay
The chickens were not producing any eggs
My wife said honey
My spouse addressed me affectionately
This isn't funny, we're losing money
Our financial situation is not humorous due to the lack of egg production resulting in losses
Why don't the little chickens lay
My spouse wonders why the chickens are not laying eggs
One day a rooster came into our yard
At some point, a male chicken entered our property
And caught those little chickens
The rooster surprised the hens by taking control over them
Right off their guard
The hens were unprepared for the rooster's intrusion
They're laying eggs now just like they used to
The hens have begun to produce eggs again as they did before
Ever since that rooster came into our yard
The egg-laying of the hens improved when the rooster entered the premises
They're laying eggs now just like they used to
The hens are producing eggs again as they did before, thanks to the rooster's arrival
Writer(s): de Cormier, C. C. Carter, F. Hellerman Copyright: Julie Music Corporation
Contributed by Skyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Frederique Roberge
on Angelina
What a joy to discover this site ..and relive that show , something so needed to end the day with a smile !