The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on this farm there was a chick
The prettiest chick I know
With a little curve here and a little curve there
This chick she had curves everywhere
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And, oh, this chick she had to walk, E-I-E-I-O
And how this walk would drive 'em wild swinging to and 'fro
With a little wiggle here and a little wiggle there
Man, this chick had wiggles to spare
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
When she went walking into town, E-I-E-I-O
The local gentry popped their eyes
Tarnation, what a show
With a goldang here and a goshdarn there
Heavens to Betsy I do declare
OlD MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
There was a barn dance Saturday night, E-I-E-I-O
And the fellows came from miles around
Just to see her dosey-do
With a promenade here and a promenade there
At a square dance, boy, this chick was no square
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
I used to be a traveling man, E-I-E-I-O
Until I hit MacDonald's place
Things were mighty slow
With a little chick here and a little chick there
I didn't have a real chick anywhere
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
This farmer's daughter knocked me out, E-I-E-I-O
I asked MacDonald for her hand
And, pop, he hollered "go!"
With a little curve here and a little wiggle there
A goldang here and a goshdarn there
A dosey-do here and a promenade there
Got my own private county fair
'Cause old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on this farm there was a chick
The prettiest chick I know
With a little curve here and a little curve there
This chick she had curves everywhere
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And, oh, this chick she had to walk, E-I-E-I-O
And how this walk would drive 'em wild swinging to and 'fro
With a little wiggle here and a little wiggle there
Man, this chick had wiggles to spare
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
When she went walking into town, E-I-E-I-O
The local gentry popped their eyes
Tarnation, what a show
With a goldang here and a goshdarn there
Heavens to Betsy I do declare
OlD MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
There was a barn dance Saturday night, E-I-E-I-O
And the fellows came from miles around
Just to see her dosey-do
With a promenade here and a promenade there
At a square dance, boy, this chick was no square
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
I used to be a traveling man, E-I-E-I-O
Until I hit MacDonald's place
Things were mighty slow
With a little chick here and a little chick there
I didn't have a real chick anywhere
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
This farmer's daughter knocked me out, E-I-E-I-O
I asked MacDonald for her hand
And, pop, he hollered "go!"
With a little curve here and a little wiggle there
A goldang here and a goshdarn there
A dosey-do here and a promenade there
Got my own private county fair
'Cause old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Old MacDonald Had a Farm Lyrics as written by Gaby Casper Florian Bauer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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