Little Red Rooster

Album: The Rolling Stones Now! (1965)
Charted: 1
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  • I am the little red rooster
    Too lazy to crow for day
    I am the little red rooster
    Too lazy to crow for day

    Keep everything in the farm yard upset in every way

    The dogs begin to bark and hounds begin to howl
    Dogs begin to bark and hounds begin to howl
    Watch out strange cat people
    Little red rooster's on the prowl

    If you see my little red rooster
    Please drive him home
    If you see my little red rooster
    Please drive him home
    Ain't had no peace in the farm yard
    Since my little red rooster's been gone Writer/s: Willie Dixon
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 18

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1963 {December 8th} "Little Red Rooster" by Sam Cooke peaked at #11 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, thus just missing making the Top 10 chart...
    "Little Red Rooster" was the first of three consecutive records by Sam Cooke to peak at #11 and all three spent ten weeks each on the Top 100, the other two records that peaked at #11 were "Good News" and "Good Time"...
    Between 1957 and 1966 the Clarksdale, Mississippi native had forty-three records on the Top 100 chart, five made the Top 10 with one reaching #1*, "You Send Me", for three weeks in 1957...
    Sadly, Samuel Cooke passed away at the young age of 33 on December 11th, 1964...
    May he R.I.P.
    * He just missed having a second #1 record when his "Chain Gang" peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} in 1960, the two records that kept it out of the top spot were "My Heart Has A Mind of Its Own" by Connie Francis and "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the ten records that kept it out of the Top 10 were:
    At #1. "Dominique" by The Singing Nun
    #2. "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen
    #3. "Everybody" by Tommy Roe
    #4. "I'm Leaving It Uo To You" by Dale and Grace
    #5. "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" by the Caravelles
    #6. "Since I Fell For You" by Lenny Welch
    #7. "Be True To Your School" by the Beach Boys
    #8. "Drip Drop" by Dion DiMucci
    #9. "There! I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton
    #10. "Walking The Dog" by Rufus Thomas
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 21st 1965, the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison arrived at the Sydney Airport*, it was the beginning of a 16-date tour of Australian and New Zealand...
    At the time the Stones had two records on the Kent Music Report chart; at #4 was "The Little Red Rooster, while at #16 was "Time Is On My Side" (the week before "The Little Red Rooster" had peaked at #2 for one week}...
    Just less than two months later on March 6th Roy Orbison's "Goodnight" reached #6 {for 3 non-consecutive weeks} on the Australian chart...
    * An estimated 3,000 screaming fans greeted the Stones & the Big 'O' at the airport.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 2nd 1965, the Rolling Stones performed "Little Red Rooster" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    As already stated it never charted in the U.S.A.; but on December 5th, 1964 it peaked at #1 (for 1 week) on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    On December 8th, 1963 Sam Cooke's covered version reached #11 (for 1 week) on the Top 100; Mr. Cooke's next two releases, "Good News" and "Good Times", also peaked at #11...
    R.I.P. Mr. Sullivan (1901 - 1974), Mr. Cooke (1931 - 1964), and Brian Jones (1942 - 1969).
  • Ken from Booneville,ms, MsBRIAN JONES one of the best slide guitarist of all time
  • Leelee from Stockton, CaIn my opinion this is better than the more upbeat Howlin wolf version! Then again he wasnt a Rolling Stone..
  • Dee Jay from Santa Monica, CaIf Little Red Rooster was already a hit for Sam Cooke, why would the Stones' version be banned? Plus, it was never released as a single in US.
  • Adam from Glasgow, United KingdomI first heard little Red rooster in 1966. An aunt of mine in Scotland sent me all of the Stones new singles as they came out (she worked in a record store). When this arrived, I had never heard of it, or Willie Dixon, but it quickly became one of my favourites. Quite often I would play it for friends who had never heard of it or known that the Stones had recorded it. Great blues tune, well done by Mick and the boys.
  • Bob from Southfield, MiBack in 1964 when this song was released, Terry Knight was a DJ at radio station CKLW in Windsor, Canada (just across the river from Detroit.) CKLW was a top 40 station at the time but Knight was so impressed with this song that he played it continuously throughout the night on his show. Knight later when on to form his own group, Terry Knight and the Pack that had some regional hits and later put together and managed the Grand Funk Railroad.
  • Ashley from Quincy, IlI'm not a big fan of blues but I love Chuck Berry
    and I love Mick's harmonia playing in this song
  • Craig from Melbourne, AustraliaUnlike Led Zeppelin, the Stones looked after their mentors and influences. They have always had black artists as support acts, whether it be Ike & Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Robert Cray -even the Black eyed peas!
  • R from Montreal, Qc, CanadaGreat "reprise" that give credits to the amerian bluesman.
    At the time they have nothing to eat; and the fact that the Stones recorded their songs bring them royalties and money. And the Stones never missed an occasion to plug those guys in British shows or tours.
    Even Chuck Berry admitted that the Stones help him to pay his Cadillacs ....
  • Dylan from Branson, MoI think this was in steel wheels
  • Joshua from Twin Cities, Mn40 years after its release, the Stones referenced this song in the first verse of "Rough Justice".
  • Erin from Plymouth, Mai thought that Brian Jones died in a mysterious accident where he was found dead in a swimming pool... whatever.
  • Kieran from Birmingham, EnglandIt's not actually about chickens! The rooster is a euphemism or metaphor for the male libido/member. This was a device used by many blues artists to communicate sensual and erotic content to 'blues people', e.g. '...mule kicking in your stall...' = coital sex (Tada!)
  • Nathan from Defiance, OhI can only guess this song was banned based on the implied meaning of Little Red Rooster refering to part of the male anatomy. I really don't know, good tune though
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Sci'll bet the song was awesome on slide guitar!
  • Jack from St. Paul, Mnwhy was this song banned? i dont see anything sexual about it
see more comments

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