Jordan was one of the first black recording artists whose popularity crossed over into the mainstream white audience and who scored hits on both the "race" charts and the mainstream white pop charts. He is now acknowledged as one of the most successful African-American musicians of the 20th century, ranking fifth in the list of the all-time most successful black recording artists.
Jordan scored at least four million-selling hits during his career, regularly topping the "race" charts, as well as scoring simultaneous Top Ten hits on the white pop charts on several occasions. Many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote have become 20th century popular music classics.
With his dynamic Tympany Five bands (which also pioneered the use of electric guitar and electric organ) Jordan largely mapped out the main parameters of the classic R&B, urban blues and early rock'n'roll genres with a series of hugely influential 78 rpm discs for the Decca label that presaged virtually all of the dominant black music styles of the 1950s and 1960s and which exerted a huge influence on many leading performers in these genres.
Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Louis Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Locked up the barnyard with the greatest of care
Down in the hen house, somethin' stirred
When he shouted, "Who's there?"
This is what he heard
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
There ain't nobody here but us
We chickens tryin' to sleep and you butt in
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble with your chin”
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
You're stompin' around and shakin' the ground
You're kickin' up an awful dust
We chicken's tryin' to sleep and you butt in
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble, it's a sin”
“Tomorrow is a busy day
We got things to do, We got eggs to lay
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch”
“Ohh, there ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
So quiet yourself and stop that fuss
There ain't nobody here but us
Kindly point that gun the other way
And hobble, hobble hobble of and hit the hay”
“Tomorrow is a busy day
We got things to do, we got eggs to lay
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch”
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
So quiet yourself and stop that fuss
There ain't nobody here but us
And kindly point that gun the other way
And hobble, hobble hobble of and hit the hay”
“Hey, hey, boss man, what do ya say?
It's easy pickings
Ain't nobody here but us chickens”
Louis Jordan’s song “Ain’t Nobody Here but Us Chickens” tells a comical story of a farmer named Brown who locks up his barnyard for the night. The henhouse is the only structure still inhabited by the farm animals. When Farmer Brown hears rustling sounds coming from the henhouse, he calls out for the intruder to identify themselves. The chickens respond with a clever refrain, “There ain't nobody here but us chickens. So quiet yourself and stop that fuss.”
As the song progresses, the chickens sing about how they need to sleep because they have an early start to the next day. The song also makes references to laying eggs, digging the ground, and scratching for worms. The refrain remains at the center of the song, serving as a reminder that there isn't anyone else in the henhouse. Overall, the song creates an amusing scenario of farm animals attempting to avoid detection in a humorous manner.
Line by Line Meaning
One night farmer Brown was takin' the airs
One night farmer Brown was outside and enjoying the fresh air
Locked up the barnyard with the greatest of care
He made sure to lock up the barnyard carefully
Down in the hen house, somethin' stirred
There was some movement in the hen house
When he shouted, "Who's there?"
He asked who was there
There ain't nobody here but us chickens
The only creatures present are chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
There are no other creatures present besides chickens
So calm yourself and stop that fuss
Please calm down and stop making noise
We chickens tryin' to sleep and you butt in
We chickens are trying to sleep and you are disturbing us
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble with your chin
And you make unnecessary noise while walking
You're stompin' around and shakin' the ground
You are making too much noise and shaking the ground
You're kickin' up an awful dust
You are generating a lot of dust
We chicken's tryin' to sleep and you butt in
We chickens are trying to sleep and you are disturbing us
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble, it's a sin
And you make unnecessary noise while walking and it is a shame
Tomorrow is a busy day
Tomorrow will be a very hectic day
We got things to do, We got eggs to lay
We have many tasks to complete, such as laying eggs
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
We need to dig the ground and scratch for worms
It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch
It is a big job to get the chicks to hatch successfully
So quiet yourself and stop that fuss
Please be quiet and stop making noise
Kindly point that gun the other way
Please move the gun away from us
And hobble, hobble hobble of and hit the hay
And you should go to bed and leave us alone
Hey, hey, boss man, what do ya say?
Hey, hey, boss man, what are you suggesting?
It's easy pickings
It will be easy to catch the chickens since no one is around
Ain't nobody here but us chickens
Again, the only creatures present are chickens
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEX C. KRAMER, JOAN WHITNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@clarajopv8279
One night farmer Brown was takin' the airs
Locked up the barnyard with the greatest of care
Down in the hen house, somethin' stirred
When he shouted, "Who's there?"
This is what he heard
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
So calm yourself and stop that fuss
There ain't nobody here but us
We chickens tryin' to sleep and you butt in
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble with your chin”
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
You're stompin' around and shakin' the ground
You're kickin' up an awful dust
We chicken's tryin' to sleep and you butt in
And hobble, hobble hobble hobble, it's a sin”
“Tomorrow is a busy day
We got things to do, We got eggs to lay
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch”
“Ohh, there ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
So quiet yourself and stop that fuss
There ain't nobody here but us
Kindly point that gun the other way
And hobble, hobble hobble of and hit the hay”
“Tomorrow is a busy day
We got things to do, we got eggs to lay
We got ground to dig and worms to scratch
It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch”
“There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
So quiet yourself and stop that fuss
There ain't nobody here but us
And kindly point that gun the other way
And hobble, hobble hobble of and hit the hay”
“Hey, hey, boss man, what do ya say?
It's easy pickings
Ain't nobody here but us chickens”
@satinque
My mother used to walk around the house singing this when I was a little girl. Memories of you, Mama. I miss you so much.
@missycb34
I also think of my late mother when I hear Louis Jordan. She used to play a CD of him in the car while we drove around. He was certainly her favorite.
@TheBillywitchdoctor
damn my mom used to sing this, too. Guess I should give her a call
@janelledavis5340
My mom used to sing this, too. I wish I could give her a call, it sadly she has passed away.
@thelandofopie
Love to the momma’s and grandma’s who have people who still remember. 💕
@skyebarkschat
Was Miss Barbara your mama? 🤪😘
@pyromaniac000000
All these comments of LA Noire, and here i am coming in from Fallout 4. I installed a diamond city radio expansion mod that added over 100 thematic songs, and this is one of them, and now i cant get it outta my head lmao. Such a good song
@Jokesonyou6666
Same dude
@roberthopwood3758
A convergence of Fallout 4 and post 10, for me.
https://youtu.be/6RSJRoso0EU
@alisoncheng747
Absolutely the same! Songs been stuck in my head all day.