"Chicken Reel" is a dance tune. It was composed by
Joseph M. Daly in 1910. Joseph Mittenthal added lyrics
in 1911. Along with "Turkey in the Straw," "Chicken
Reel" is probably best known for its use in early
animated cartoons as a catchy tune used to represent
animal activity. Originally composed as a novelty song,
it has since passed into modern folk tradition. Today,
the tune is usually played without the words, which
would often have been sung in the minstrel style (in
stereotyped African-Ame...(+)
"Chicken Reel" is a dance tune. It was composed by
Joseph M. Daly in 1910. Joseph Mittenthal added lyrics
in 1911. Along with "Turkey in the Straw," "Chicken
Reel" is probably best known for its use in early
animated cartoons as a catchy tune used to represent
animal activity. Originally composed as a novelty song,
it has since passed into modern folk tradition. Today,
the tune is usually played without the words, which
would often have been sung in the minstrel style (in
stereotyped African-American vernacular). (Wikipedia)