The Red Rooster
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Too lazy to crow for day
I have a little red rooster
Too lazy to crow for day
Keep everything in the barnyard
Upset in every way
Oh, the dogs begin to bark and the
Hound begin to howl
Oh, the dogs begin to bark
Hound begin to howl
Oh, watch out, strange-kin people 'cause the
Little red rooster's on the prowl
If you see my little red rooster
Please drag him home
If you see my little red rooster
Please drag him home
There's been no peace in the barnyard
Since the little red rooster been gone
Howlin' Wolf's "The Red Rooster" is a song with a barrage of symbolism that speaks about the narrator's little red rooster that is too lazy to crow during the day. The rooster is lazy and ineffective, and the lyrics come off as somewhat sarcastic. The rooster is portrayed as a key figure, holding influence within the barnyard, but ironically, the lazy rooster keeps everything in the barnyard upset. The song personifies the rooster's laziness as a means of disrupting the peace in the barnyard, and everyone is upset about it.
The lyrics start off by detailing that the little red rooster is too lazy to crow, and this laziness is causing resentment amongst the other animals in the barnyard. The dogs begin to bark and howl, signifying that something strange or perhaps dangerous is afoot. The narrator warns everyone to watch out because the rooster is on the prowl, insinuating that the rooster is up to no good. The message behind the lyrics is that those who are lazy and unproductive can create chaos, and those who are high-strung and active become the watchdogs, always vigilant.
In summary, the meaning of "The Red Rooster" seems to be that even those who are seen as insignificant can create disruption and chaos if they're not doing their job properly. Sometimes the quiet ones cause the most noise.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a little red rooster
I own a small rooster
Too lazy to crow for day
It does not make a sound in the morning
Keep everything in the barnyard
It is the center of attention in the barnyard
Upset in every way
It disturbs and makes all animals restless in the barnyard
Oh, the dogs begin to bark and the
The sound of the rooster causes a reaction in the dogs and
Hound begin to howl
Hounds start to howl in response to the rooster's noise
Oh, watch out, strange-kin people 'cause the
Be cautious, the rooster may cause trouble
Little red rooster's on the prowl
The rooster is wandering around
If you see my little red rooster
If you find my small rooster
Please drag him home
Bring it back to me
There's been no peace in the barnyard
The absence of the rooster has made things quiet in the barnyard
Since the little red rooster been gone
Ever since the rooster disappeared
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular Read Full BioChester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 in White Station, Mississippi, United States – January 10, 1976 in Hines, Illinois, United States), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.
With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett—such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"—have become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
ladyfly9
I have a little red rooster
Too lazy to crow for day
I have a little red rooster
Too lazy to crow for day
Keep everything in the barnyard
Upset in every way
Oh, the dogs begin to bark and the
Hound begin to howl
Oh, the dogs begin to bark
Hound begin to howl
Oh, watch out, strange-kin people 'cause the
Little red rooster's on the prowl
If you see my little red rooster
Please drag him home
If you see my little red rooster
Please drag him home
There's been no peace in the barnyard
Since the little red rooster been gone
Source: LyricFind
Craig Boogie
Listening to this song on repeat with a bottle of Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch......life is good!!! Howlin will live forever!!!! Pass his legend on to everyone you know...this is American history at it's finest!!!
Mike Hollingworth
yea craig......u so groovy.....and so eloquent
Phayzyre105
I don't know why blues speaks to me like it does but it speaks to me like no other style of music can!
eoj2495
I know what you mean
Rhonda LaFranca
Beautiful..Beautiful singer and artist. I'm only 42..but this man helped shape my life thru my grandmother!!
Peter Sutton
Willie Dixon's bass - never intrudes, never underplays, always exactly right for the moment.
Chris Morgan
@Do It Now! video's yeah! it's most prominent in the right channel, check your balance as well maybe
Do It Now! video's yeah!
So if I had better speakers I would hear the bass? Good to know. Woth MP3 s never know
*June bug*
I so LOVE THE BLUES... 🎶💙🎸 🎷
Oh yeah!! Soothes my SOUL 🎶🎶
BEENIECRIS TV 🐝
My first favorite blues song . We had a rooster . Used to try and hurt us . But mama loved it