Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Rooster Rag” by Little Feat
“Rooster Rag” by Little Feat is a song about a character named Henry Lee, a rooster farmer from the South. The song follows Henry Lee’s life of resilience and self-reliance, as he lives and works on his farm, raising roosters while surrounded by everything from the Mississippi River to the mockingbirds.
The song takes a humorous angle to life’s struggles, painting Henry as a reluctant but proud warrior, ready to weather any storm. He finds joy and comfort in his own company, and contentment in the roosters he raises. It’s a lighthearted look at a tough situation, as Henry finds solace in his barn and his beloved animals.
The instrumentals of the song are bouncy and lighthearted, as if Henry’s spirit is the embodiment of resilience and joy. With a ragtime-style piano and a mix of bluesy guitars, drumbeat, and harmonica, “Rooster Rag” invokes the comfort of hearth and home with its attitude of determined acceptance and jubilation. In the chorus, Henry proclaims that he’s a rooster raiser, and that’s the way it’ll stay for him, in spite of all life throws at him.
In the end, “Rooster Rag” is a celebration of life’s resilience and joy, no matter the circumstances.