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Swing A Chicken 3 Times Over Your Head

from We Are Going to Bremen To Be Musicians by Geoff Berner

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1. Swing a Chicken Three Times Over Your Head

On my fortieth birthday,
I woke up in Poland,
(Accidentally)
I looked around and thought, “I better keep on rollin’,”
So we rolled right the fuck on outta Poland.
Alright.

Free Christiania,
That’s where my birthday ended.
My friends said “Where were you?
“We couldn’t find you.
“Why’re you bleeding?”
So I said,
As I bled,

I’ve been swinging a chicken
I’ve been swinging a chicken
I’ve been swinging a chicken
Three times
Over my head.

I hear that Superman’s a Jew,
(Or at least an immigrant.)
And Nosferatu, too,
But what do they do
When they screw
Up so bad,
It’s like a kryptonite magnet
That is dragging them to their death bed?
What do they do instead?
They say
If you need me…

I’ll be swinging a chicken,
I’ll be swinging a chicken,
I’ve been swinging a chicken
Three times over my head.

If you do enough living,
You’ll be faced with a decision
Between committing a sin,
And committing a different sin.
Then
You’ll want a shot at redemption.
You want a shot at redemption?
Don’t use a rubber chicken.
Because then the sin
Just bounces back in.

Now you take it by each wing,
And you sing.
You sing:
“Won’t you help me swing
“This frightened chicken.
“It’s all I ever had.”

Swing that chicken one time!
Swing that chicken two times!
Swing that chicken three times!
Alright!

I’ve been swinging a chicken,
I’ve been swinging a chicken,
I’ve been swinging a chicken,
Three times over my head.

credits

from We Are Going to Bremen To Be Musicians, released October 16, 2015
Lyrics and Music by: Geoff Berner

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Geoff Berner Vancouver, British Columbia

Singer / songwriter / accordionist / novelist Geoff Berner's music combines klezmer, punk, political satire and Balkan dance rhythms. He writes sharp, literate songs that make you want to weep, laugh, grind your teeth, or kick out a window - often all at the same time. Having built a cult following with his weirdly compelling stage presence, G.B. has a strange ability to create fun chaos. ... more

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