INJUSTICE STORIES
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

Query: I am looking for a story to illuminate a recent situation in my life. Do any of you know any stories that might illustrate this idea: >injustices done to ABC by the XYZ authority investigates but only speaks to xyz who says "nope nothing going on here" authority goes back to ABC and says, "XYZ says they did nothing wrong" I get the image of a farmer being told there is a danger in the hen house. When he gets to the henhouse, he bangs on the door. A fox sticks out his head, spitting out feathers. Farmer asks the fox if everything is all right in there. Fox replies, "Yes everything's fine in here." Farmer returns and tells everyone that the fox says there's nothing bad going on in the hen house. So, do "we" know any stories like that?
Response: Yup. It is from the musical Five Guys Named Moe, based on Louis Jorden's recordings.
http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/fiveguysnamedmoe/thereaintnobodyherebutuschickens.htm
Song: There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens Lyrics
NO MOE:
OK folks here's a little story just for you now one night Farmer brown was
takin' the air he locked up the farmyard with the greatest of care but down
in the hen-house something stirred and when he shouted 'Whos there?"
this is what he heard
FOUR EYED MOE:
There ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
so quiet yourself and stop that fuss
there ain't nobody here but us
we chickens tryin' to sleep, and you butt in
and hobble hobble hobble hobble it's a sin
NO MOE:
Now Farmer brown lit his corn cobbed pipe he looked down at his trusty dog
and he said, "Hey if the chickens said they alright they are alright. Let's
head back to the shack Jack". But the dog wasn't convinced, he said "Go back
to the henhouse" gave a little doggy knock and in his best chickenese said
"Is everything alright?"
FOUR EYED MOE:
I said there ain't nobody here but us chickens
There ain't nobody here at all
you're stompin' around and checkin' around
and kickin' up an awful fuss
we chickens tryin' to sleep, and you butt in
and hobble hobble hobble hobble it's a sin
NO MOE:
"Ok, ok, ok," said the dog and he turned to leave just then a very unchicken
like sneeze came from the henhouse "Achoo!"
Farmer Brown cocked his gun, he syas "I'm a comin' in, you better open that
door just a teeny weeny bit so I can take a peek"
FOUR EYED MOE:
NO! Tomorrow is a busy day
we got things to do, we got eggs to lay,
ground to dig, we've got worms to scratch,
you know it takes a lot of sittin' gettin' chicks to hatch
besides - there aint nobody here but us chickens
there ain't nobody here at all
so stop that fuss and raisin' dust
hey there ain't nobody here but us
so kindly point that gun the other way
and hobble hobble hobble off and hit the hay.
NO MOE:
Okay, I guess you're right, I'm off to sleep. Goddnight.
BIG MOE
Hey Boss man, what d'ya think?
FOUR EYED MOE:
Easy pickin's, ain't nobody here but us chickens.

1) The wolf in sheep's clothing could be twisted to fit that scenario? How old is your intended audience?

2) A related story from the black tradition, though not exactly congruent, is in Botkin's first American Folklore collection, & is called Brother Fox and Sister Goose. *Great* story. If, as a fellow white guy, you figure out a way to do the last line right, let me know. I've posted it here before.

3) "Top off, half gone, and all gone" isn't exactly like that, but has some of the same feeling.

(This web page updated 10/22/05)