He was best known as a pioneer of the acoustic blues revival, but his work ranged from old English ballads to Bertolt Brecht, rock, New Orleans jazz, and swing. He was a pioneer of instrumental ragtime guitar, as well as an early supporter of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, among many others. Van Ronk was very influential on the music scene in New York City in the 1960s.
His professional musical career started when he moved from Brooklyn to Queens in 1951 and started doing pick-up work in traditional jazz outfits.
Van Ronk died of colorectal cancer (colon cancer) in 2002.
Chicken Is Nice
Dave Van Ronk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don′t want no wife from Robert's Falls
The o-only dish she can cook is fried fish
Don't want no wife from Robert′s Falls
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken is nice
With palm butter and rice
I don′t want no wife from Quepamas
Don't want no wife from Quepamas
If I move around, she′ll put me in the ground
I don't want no wife from Quepamas
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken is nice
With palm butter and rice
I don′t want no wife from Cyno
Don't want no wife from Cyno
If I go out at night, she′ll challenge me to fight
I don't want no wife from Cyno
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken is nice
With palm butter and rice
I don't want no wife from Monrovia
Don′t want no wife from Monrovia
When my money gets low, to another she′ll go
I don't want no wife from Monrovia
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken is nice
With palm butter and rice
The song "Chicken is Nice" by Dave Van Ronk is a humorous take on the difficulties of marriage and relationships. It tells of the singer's experiences with women from various places, beginning with Robert's Falls, and his firm decision not to marry them. He recites a few reasons why he does not want to marry someone from these places. For instance, he cites that a wife from Robert's Falls can only cook fried fish, whereas a wife from Quepamas would put him into the ground if he moved around. Similarly, a wife from Cyno would challenge him to fight if he went out at night, and a wife from Monrovia would leave him when his money ran low.
Throughout the song, there is a recurring chorus of "chicken is nice, with palm butter and rice," emphasizing the singer's preference for chicken over the potential difficulties of marriage. With its wry humor, the song suggests that the singer values his freedom and independence, rather than settling down with a troublesome spouse. In sum, "Chicken is Nice" highlights the complexities of relationships, and the importance of independence in decision-making.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t want no wife from Robert's Falls
I don't want to marry someone from Robert's Falls.
Don’t want no wife from Robert's Falls
I do not desire to wed someone who comes from Robert's Falls.
The o-only dish she can cook is fried fish
She only knows how to prepare and cook fried fish, nothing else.
Don't want no wife from Robert's Falls
I do not want to have my future spouse from Robert's Falls.
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken tastes good, it is tasty.
Chicken is nice
I like the flavor and texture of chicken.
With palm butter and rice
Chicken tastes especially good when paired with rice and palm butter.
I don’t want no wife from Quepamas
I don't want to marry someone who comes from Quepamas.
Don't want no wife from Quepamas
I do not desire to wed someone who resides in Quepamas.
If I move around, she'll put me in the ground
If I take a walk or travel somewhere, she'll get angry at me and maybe hurt me.
I don't want no wife from Quepamas
I don't want to have my future spouse from Quepamas.
I don’t want no wife from Cyno
I don't want to marry someone who comes from Cyno.
Don't want no wife from Cyno
I do not desire to wed someone who resides in Cyno.
If I go out at night, she'll challenge me to fight
If I leave the house at night, she'll try to start an argument or physical fight with me.
I don't want no wife from Cyno
I don't want to have my future spouse from Cyno.
I don’t want no wife from Monrovia
I don't want to marry someone who comes from Monrovia.
Don't want no wife from Monrovia
I do not desire to wed someone who hails from Monrovia.
When my money gets low, to another she'll go
If I don't have enough money, she'll leave me and go to another man who has money.
I don't want no wife from Monrovia
I don't want to have my future spouse from Monrovia.
Chicken is nice, chicken is nice
Chicken tastes good, it is delectable.
Chicken is nice
I enjoy the taste and texture of chicken.
With palm butter and rice
Chicken is exceptionally tasty when eaten with rice and palm butter.
Writer(s): traditional
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.