The Red Rooster
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

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

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

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



All comments from YouTube:

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

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