Chicken House                                       by John Flynn

At Culver place on jersey Road just over the state line
Smoke and fire filled the sky along ‘bout supper time
He dialed 911 and then John Culver soaked a towel
With water and ran in to where he’d heard his two dogs howl

Dog dies, man hurt, as chicken house burns

Wet towel on his head John Culver entered hell and stood
Where flames feasted on years of chicken dropping and dry wood
While over in the corner Buck and Luther cringed and bayed
Buck came when John called him but old Luther disobeyed

Dog dies, man hurt, as chicken house burns

John tried to get to Luther but infernos intervened

Years won’t take away the things his blood shot eyes have seen
And when he tells his story those who love dogs understand

The catch in old John’s whisper and the burns on old John’s hands

Dog dies, man hurt, as chicken house burns

No chickens were injured in the writing of this song

The coop was used for storage all the feathered tenants gone

No sign of cause or origin the fire marshal said

And in the next day’s local that big headline simply read

Dog dies, man hurt, as chicken house burns

John tried to get to Luther but infernos intervened

Years won’t take away the things his blood shot eyes have seen
And when he tells his story those who love dogs understand

The catch in old John’s whisper and the burns on old John’s hands

At Culver place on jersey Road just over the state line

Smoke and fire filled the sky along ‘bout supper time

He dialed 911 and then John Culver soaked a towel

With water and ran in to where he’d heard his two dogs howl

Dog dies, man hurt, as chicken house burns

© Flying Stone Music