Turkey in the Straw

Traditional American Folk Song — Public Domain

Verse 0

Oh I went out to milk but I didn't know how
I milked a horse instead of a cow
Old red rooster hopping on one leg
Laughed so hard he layed an egg

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 1

As I was a-goin’ down the road,
With a tired team and a heavy load,
I cracked my whip and the lead horse sprung,
I says “day, day,” to the wagon tongue.

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 2

Went to the river and I couldn’t get across,
I paid five dollars for an old blind horse;
Wouldn’t go ahead and he wouldn’t stand still,
So he went up and down like an old saw-mill.

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 3

Oh the first old woman that I did meet,
Had a hog and two sheep and a mule with feet;
The second old woman I met in the lane,
Was a-carryin’ water in a siftin’ cane.

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 4

Met Mr. Catfish comin’ down the stream,
Says he, “Mister Frog, what do you mean?”
Says Mr. Frog with a wink of his eye,
“I’m after that skeeter that’s a-flyin’ by.”

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 5

Oh I jumped in the seat and I gave a little yell,
The horses ran away and the wagon went to—well,
Up spoke my wife with a laugh and a drawl,
“Don’t worry, dear, it’s a turkey in the straw.”

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 6

Oh a possum up a ’simmon tree,
A raccoon on the ground,
A preacher in the pulpit,
A-singin’ them sinners down.

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”

Verse 7

Oh I hitched up my buggy and I went to town,
To see my true love in a gingham gown;
She smiled at me as I drove up to the door,
And we danced to the tune till the rooster crowed four.

Refrain:
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Turkey in the straw, turkey in the hay,
Roll ’em up, twist ’em up, a high tuck-a-haw,
And play me a tune called “Turkey in the Straw.”