The Cluck Stops Here: The Ballad Of Mike The Headless Chicken

Album: not on an album (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The story of Mike the headless chicken is one that falls into the category of you couldn't make it up. It is well known that when a chicken is decapitated, the body can run around for several minutes, but in September 1945 when a farmer in Fruita, Colorado, cut off the head of one rooster, the body carried on as usual.

    Instead of finishing off the job, Lloyd Olsen took pity on the animal, or what was left of it, and fed it through an eye dropper. The bird lived - if one may use that word - for another eighteen months, and grew from a mere two and a half pounds to eight pounds in weight. It was exhibited all over the country, many people obviously unconvinced and wanting to see for themselves. Although it made the Guinness Book Of Records, the pinnacle of its fame was to be featured in Life magazine.
  • "The Cluck Stops Here" was not the first song written about this bizarre phenomenon; Julie Mangin wrote the lyrics and enlisted Carolee Rand to to assist with the melody and arrangement. "The Cluck Stops Here" was first performed at the 2006 Tacky Treasures Road Show.
  • The title is of course a pun on US President Harry Truman's famous slogan: The Buck Stops Here. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.