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Turkey In The Straw

TML # 010458
Click Play Speed Slow 1/4=110 Medium 1/4=150 Fast 1/4=210

The very well known tune was first published in 1834. Today it is mainly used as an instrumental and dance tune for old style line dance and often known in this context as "Virginia Reel. Many variations of lyrics will be found for this tune. Also a favourite for "melodic" style 5 string banjo. Lyrics usually involve the strange things encountered by a teamster Generally regarded as a rewriting of "Old Zip Coon." Sometimes regarded as the forerunner of "The Old Tobacco Box (There Was an Old Soldier)" (with which it often shares a tune), but the latter also has its own independent tune and form.
Well I hitched up the wagon and I drove down the road,
With a two horse wa-gon and a four horse load,
I saw a tur-key bird just a play'n in the hay,
But he sure couldn't have known it was thanks gi-vin' day.

Tur-key in the straw , in the straw, straw straw straw
Tur-key in the hay, in the hay, hay hay hay.
I ran and ran till my feet were sore,
but I aint nev-er gon-na catch the Tur-key in the Straw.
Well I had a Little chicken and she had a wooden leg,
She's the finest little chicken that has ever laid an egg,
Well she laid a lot more than any chicken on the farm,
But another little drink wouldn't do her any harm

Well if frogs had wings and snakes had hair,
And automobiles went a-flying through the air,
And if water melons grew on a huckleberry vine,
we'd have winter the the sunny summertime.
This royalty free score was generated by the Traditional Music Library On Line Tunebook (Shareware Version). As-is copies of this score may be freely distributed. Further info from WWW.TRADITIONALMUSIC.CO.UK