Pyrates! have requisitioned countless well known folk tunes from sailors of ages past including songs of the sea, Bawdy Ballads, Jaunty Jigs, Irish Ditties, Sea Shanties, Drinking Songs and arr’cappella folk tunes that’ll be sure ta have yez tappin’ yer foot and singing along in no time!
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Chicken On a Raft
Pyrates! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't mind knocking but I ain't going in, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
'Jimmy's' laughing like a drain, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Been looking at m' 'comic cuts' again. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
They gave me the Middle and the Forenoon too, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
And now I'm pulling in the whaler's crew, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Seagulls wheeling overhead, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
I ought to be 'flogging' in a feather bed. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
I had a little girl in 'Donny B', (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
And oh, she made a fool of me, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Her heart was like a Pusser's shower, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
From hot to cold in a quarter of an hour. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
We kissed goodbye on the midnight bus, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
She didn't cry, she didn't fuss, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Am I the one that she loves best? (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Or am I just a cuckoo in another man's nest? (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
An Amazon girl lives in Dumfries, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
She only has kids in twos and threes, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Her sister lives in Maryhill, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
She says she won't but I think she will. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
The song "Chicken On a Raft" by Pyrates! tells the story of a sailor who is stuck on a ship with his crewmates, enduring the monotony of daily life at sea. The opening lyrics speak of a skipper drinking gin in the wardroom, and the singer's reluctance to join him. The second verse describes the singer's assignment to work the middle and forenoon shifts, while his shipmates pick at a chicken on a raft. The third verse tells the story of a failed romance with a girl in Donny B, and the final verse includes references to a woman in Dumfries and her sister in Maryhill.
The song's lyrics are full of nautical slang and include references to terms like "Dabtoes" (landlubbers) and "Pusser's shower" (a hot and cold shower) that are likely unfamiliar to most listeners. The repetition of the chorus and the catchy "Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft" refrain create a sense of both monotony and camaraderie, as the crew members share in their boredom and their subpar meals.
Overall, "Chicken On a Raft" is a humorous and lighthearted song that captures the daily grind and occasional joys of life at sea. It is a shining example of the enduring tradition of sea shanties and offers listeners a glimpse into a world that is vastly different from their everyday lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Skipper's in the wardroom drinking gin, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The captain is drinking gin in the officer's dining room, but the singer doesn't want to disturb him because he can see a chicken floating on a raft outside the ship.
I don't mind knocking but I ain't going in, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Although the singer wouldn't mind knocking on the door, he doesn't want to disturb the captain who seems to be enjoying his drink.
'Jimmy's' laughing like a drain, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Jimmy, who is possibly another sailor, is laughing loudly and heartily.
Been looking at m' 'comic cuts' again. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist has been reading his comic books again, though he shouldn't be doing so while on duty.
They gave me the Middle and the Forenoon too, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist has been assigned to work the middle and forenoon shifts.
And now I'm pulling in the whaler's crew, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The singer is working with the whaler's crew, most likely trying to catch whales.
Seagulls wheeling overhead, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Seagulls are flying around above them.
I ought to be 'flogging' in a feather bed. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist feels like he should be sleeping comfortably in a feather bed, rather than working hard on a ship.
I had a little girl in 'Donny B', (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist was involved with a girl from Doncaster, whom he recalls fondly.
And oh, she made a fool of me, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist feels like he was tricked or played for a fool by the girl he was involved with.
Her heart was like a Pusser's shower, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The girl's feelings changed constantly, just like the water temperature in the ship's showers.
From hot to cold in a quarter of an hour. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
Her feelings would change quickly and drastically, just like the water temperature in the ship's showers.
We kissed goodbye on the midnight bus, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The singer parted with the girl he was involved with on a late night bus ride.
She didn't cry, she didn't fuss, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The girl didn't show any outward signs of emotion when they parted ways.
Am I the one that she loves best? (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The singer is unsure if he was really the girl's favorite or not.
Or am I just a cuckoo in another man's nest? (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The artist suspects that the girl was involved with someone else, and he was just a temporary fling.
An Amazon girl lives in Dumfries, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
There is a tall, strong girl living in Dumfries who catches the artist's eye.
She only has kids in twos and threes, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The girl from Dumfries has children in small groups, rather than all at once.
Her sister lives in Maryhill, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The girl from Dumfries has a sister who lives in Maryhill.
She says she won't but I think she will. (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
The girl from Dumfries says she won't have anything to do with the artist, but he thinks she might still be interested in him.
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, oh what a terrible sight to see,
'Dabtoes' for'd and the Dustmen aft, sitting there picking at a 'chicken on a raft'.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
Hey -oh, chicken on a raft, Oy -oh, chicken on a raft.
The men on the ship are eating a meal consisting of a chicken that's floating on a raft. The artist thinks it's a terrible sight to see and repeats the phrase 'Hey -oh, chicken on a raft' throughout.
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.