“Chirpy chirpy, cheep cheep” is a song recorded in 1970 by its composer Lally Stott, and made popular later that year by Scottish band Middle of the Road for whom it was a UK number one chart hit. That version is one of the fewer than fifty all-time singles to have sold in excess of 10 million physical copies worldwide.
The song has been covered in many languages, including Catalan, Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish and German. A Spanish language version was done by Middle of the Road followed by another version by Dolores Vargas. German versions were by Hajo and Mickie Krause who performed a dance song to the same tune, “Reiss die Hütte ab” (Tear The Hut Down) (Apres Ski Hits 2003). Koivistolaiset sang Finnish language version with lyrics from Vexi Salmi.
The original recording of the song by its composer, Lally Stott, was a Top 15 hit in France and a minor hit in Italy, Australia and in the United States. Stott’s record company, Philips, was reluctant to release the song overseas, and apparently offered it to two other groups: Scottish folk-pop group Middle of the Road, who were working in Italy at the time, and the Trinidadian brother-and-sister duo Mac and Katie Kissoon.
While it is unclear which group Stott offered his song to first, Mac and Katie Kissoon produced their cover version first. Middle of the Road’s version then initially became a hit in continental Europe only, but later grew in popularity in the United Kingdom. In the UK, it reportedly got a boost from DJ Tony Blackburn, who favored this version over the previously produced version by Mac and Katie Kissoon. However, Middle of the Road’s version never charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it nearly flopped in the UK because it so quickly followed the Kissoons’ version.
Middle of the Road’s recording eventually reached #1 in the UK and stayed there for five weeks in June 1971 (the Kissoons’ version only reached #41). In the United States, the Kissoons’ recording became a greater success, reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Lally Stott’s original version had previously reached only #92).
Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)
Where’s your mama gone?
(Where’s your mama gone?)
Little baby, Don
(Little baby, Don)
Where’s your mama gone?
(Where’s your mama gone?)
Far, far away
Where’s your papa gone?
(Where’s your papa gone?)
Little baby, Don
(Little baby, Don)
Where’s your papa gone?
(Where’s your papa gone?)
Far, far away, far, far away
Last night I heard my mama singing a song
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Woke up this morning and my mama was gone
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep, chirp
Where’s your mama gone?
(Where’s your mama gone?)
Little baby, Don
(Little baby, Don)
Where’s your mama gone?
(Where’s your mama gone?)
Far, far away
Where’s your papa gone?
(Where’s your papa gone?)
Little baby, Don
(Little baby, Don)
Where’s your papa gone?
(Where’s your papa gone?)
Far, far away, far, far away
Last night I heard my mama singing a song
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Woke up this morning and my mama was gone
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep, chirp
(Let’s go now)
Last night I heard my mama singing a song
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Woke up this morning and my mama was gone
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep, chirp
(Altogether now)
Last night I heard my mama singing a song
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Woke up this morning and my mama was gone
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
Chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep, chirp
(Altogether now)
Last night I heard my mama singing a song
Ooh we, chirpy, chirpy, cheep, cheep
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