Born Richard Alfred Newell in Hamilton, Ontario, he first heard the blues on U.S. radio. At the age of seventeen he started playing the harmonica, playing with local blues and rock bands. In 1966 he joined the Toronto band, the Mid-Knights, leaving them to go on tour singing and playing harmonica from 1968 to 1970 with Ronnie Hawkins (who named him "King Biscuit Boy" after the Arkansas blues programme, King Biscuit Time).
"Biscuit", who also played guitar, made his first LP, Official Music in 1970 with Hawkin's old backing band, now called Crowbar. His first solo album was the 1974 King Biscuit Boy, followed by many others.
He continued to perform intermittently in Canada and the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s. He received two nominations for the Juno award, and in 1995 was presented with the Great Canadian Blues Award.
Due to his heavy drinking, Newell's health deteriorated as he aged, which led to performance problems and cancelled shows. He died at his home in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2003, two months short of his fifty-ninth birthday.
A couple of months after his death, friends of Newell held a benefit show at a downtown Hamilton, Ontario, club, to create a trust fund in his name. More than 100 musicians from across the country showed up to play at Club 77 at the first annual "Blues with a Feeling" benefit show. The show was successful and "The Friends of Richard Newell" have held one every year since, with the money raised going to a music scholarship fund at Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology in Hamilton, Ontario.
Down On The Farm
King Biscuit Boy Lyrics
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But I saw a horse doin' the bop with a mule
Down on the farm, down on the farm
Down on the farm, rock 'n' roll is takin' over my barn
The rooster won't crow, chicken won't cluck
Running 'round the barnyard, doin' the hucklebuck
Down on the farm, down on the farm
Lazy dog, crazy pig
All they wanna do is a rock 'n' roll dig
Down on the farm, down on the farm
Down on the farm, rock 'n' roll is takin' over my barn
The rooster won't crow, chicken won't cluck
Running 'round the barnyard, doin' the hucklebuck
Down on the farm, down on the farm
Down on the farm, rock 'n' roll is takin' over my barn
The song "Down on the Farm" by King Biscuit Boy features playful and whimsical lyrics that depict a scene of animals on a farm engaging in rock and roll dancing. The lyrics suggest the lyrical protagonist is a witness to this strange occurrence and that he is taking pleasure in the unexpected but delightful events taking place on the farm. King Biscuit Boy begins by addressing the listener, suggesting that they may consider him a crazy fool, but he has witnessed a horse and a mule "doin' the bop" on his farm. The chorus, "Down on the farm, rock 'n' roll is takin' over my barn," repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the notion that the farm is now a place of rock and roll music.
The lyrics go on to describe other animals, including chickens, pigs, and dogs, being equally captivated by the new sound on the farm, with the rooster and chicken reportedly joining in with the dancing. The playful and imaginative lyrics of the song may suggest that rock and roll music can bring joy and excitement to even the unlikeliest of places.
Overall, "Down on the Farm" can be seen as a humorous song about rock and roll music taking over an unexpected setting like a farm, and it reflects the spirit of the 1970s when rock and roll music was at the height of popularity and influence.
Line by Line Meaning
You might think, I'm a crazy fool
Although you may believe I am foolish, I have witnessed something remarkable.
But I saw a horse doin' the bop with a mule
I have observed an unusual occurrence, a horse and mule dancing a certain style of rock and roll.
Down on the farm, down on the farm
This extraordinary event took place on a farm, and the location is being emphasized.
Down on the farm, rock 'n' roll is takin' over my barn
The music genre of rock and roll is becoming prevalent on the farm and inside the barn, indicating that it is spreading rapidly.
The rooster won't crow, chicken won't cluck
The usual sounds of the farm, such as the crowing of a rooster and the clucking of a chicken, have been replaced with the beat of rock and roll music.
Running 'round the barnyard, doin' the hucklebuck
The animals are not functioning as they typically do on a farm, and instead are dancing an energetic and exuberant dance called the Hucklebuck.
Lazy dog, crazy pig
Even the typically laid-back dog and unpredictable pig are getting involved in the commotion and joining in on the rock and roll fun.
All they wanna do is a rock 'n' roll dig
The animals are solely focused on engaging in the dance style reminiscent of rock and roll music.
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.