Chicken on a Raft
Royston Wood & Heather Wood Lyrics
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Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
I don't mind knockin', but I ain't goin' in!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
The jimmy's laughin' like it'd rain,
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
He's lookin' at me comic cuts again!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
cho:Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
Oh, what a terrible sight to see,
Dabtoes forward and the dustmen aft,
Sittin' there a'pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
Hi, ho, chicken on a raft!
Hey, ho, chicken on a raft!
Hi, ho, chicken on a raft!
Hey, ho, chicken on a raft!
Gave me the middle and the forenoon too,
Now I'm pullin' on a whalin' crew.
Seagulls wheelin' overhead,
I oughter be home in me featherbed!
I had a little girl in Donny-B,
And did she make a fool of me.
Her heart was like a pusser's shower,
Run hot to cold in a quarter of an hour!
We kissed goodbye on a midnight bus,
She didn't cry and she didn't fuss,
Am I that one she loves the best,
Or just a cuckoo in another man's nest?
An amazon girl lived in Dumfries,
Only had her kids in two's and three's,
She's got a sister in Maryhill,
Says she won't but I think she will!
The song "Chicken on a Raft" by Royston Wood & Heather Wood is a sea shanty that tells a story of life on a ship. The song opens with a captain drinking gin in the wardroom and looking at comic cuts. Meanwhile, the crew is picking at a chicken on a raft. The chorus repeats the phrase "hi, ho, chicken on a raft" as the ship is described as having "Dabtoes forward and the dustmen aft." The second verse describes the singer's time on the ship as a whaler, where he longs to be in his featherbed instead. The final verses discuss failed romantic relationships, with the singer questioning whether he is truly loved or just a "cuckoo in another man's nest."
The song's lyrics indicate that it was likely used as a work song on a ship, with the chorus serving as a way to keep rhythm and motivation during physical labor. The lyrics are also filled with nautical slang and jargon, such as "jimmy" (a sailor's knife) and "pusser's shower" (a navy term for a strict cleaning routine). Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of life on a ship in the 19th century, with its mix of hard work, camaraderie, and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Skipper in the wardroom drinkin' gin,
The captain is drinking gin in the room where officers eat.
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
An exclamation about the presence of food aboard the ship.
I don't mind knockin', but I ain't goin' in!
I don't mind tapping on the door, but I won't enter with the captain inside.
The jimmy's laughin' like it'd rain,
The navigator is laughing loudly and frequently.
He's lookin' at me comic cuts again!
He's reading humorous comic books again.
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
Chicken is being served on a raft on a Monday morning.
Oh, what a terrible sight to see,
This is not considered an appetizing meal.
Dabtoes forward and the dustmen aft,
Sailors at the front of the ship and the garbage workers at the back are all eating together.
Sittin' there a'pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
The sailors are casually eating chicken and enjoying their time together.
Hi, ho, chicken on a raft!
Another exclamation about the presence of food aboard the ship.
Hey, ho, chicken on a raft!
Another exclamation about the presence of food aboard the ship.
Gave me the middle and the forenoon too,
I was given the task of working in the middle and forenoon of the day.
Now I'm pullin' on a whalin' crew.
I am now part of a crew responsible for catching whales.
Seagulls wheelin' overhead,
Seagulls are flying above the ship.
I oughter be home in me featherbed!
I wish I were home in my warm bed.
I had a little girl in Donny-B,
I used to have a girlfriend in Doncaster-Bristol.
And did she make a fool of me.
She embarrassed or deceived me in some way.
Her heart was like a pusser's shower,
Her feelings were fickle like a soldier's shower.
Run hot to cold in a quarter of an hour!
Her emotions could change quickly in just 15 minutes.
We kissed goodbye on a midnight bus,
We parted ways with a kiss on a bus at midnight.
She didn't cry and she didn't fuss,
She didn't show much emotion when we said goodbye.
Am I that one she loves the best,
I wonder if she really loves me the most.
Or just a cuckoo in another man's nest?
Or am I just someone who's involved with another man's woman?
An amazon girl lived in Dumfries,
There was a tall and strong woman who lived in Dumfries.
Only had her kids in two's and three's,
She had children in groups of two or three.
She's got a sister in Maryhill,
This woman has a sister who lives in Maryhill.
Says she won't but I think she will!
She claims she won't have more children, but I suspect she will.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CYRIL TAWNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
sudnoSS
Skipper's in the wardroom drinking gin, (Hey -oh, chicken on a raft)
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.
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)
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'.
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 man 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'.
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)
Geoff Thomas
@George Curry Nope - although an understandable error.
each iteration has a verse with 4 mentions, a couplet with two mentions and a final mention four times.
So, there are ten mentions each round, and five rounds of verse/chorus sets. 5 x 10 = 50.
BUT Verse three has only 3 iterations, not four.
So the total is 49, not 50.
J McIver
Well skippers in the wardroom drinkin' gin,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
I don't mind a'knockin' but I ain't a'goin in,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
The Jimmys laughin' like it'd rain,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
He lookin' at me comic cuts again,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning oh what a terrible sight to see, dabtoes forward and the dustman aft, sitting there pickin' at a chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
Hi yo, chicken on a raft!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
Well he gave me the middle and the the forenoon too,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
And now I'm pullin' in a whalin crew,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
There's a seagull wailin' overhead,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Thought I oughta be sleepin' Ina featherbed,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning oh what a terrible sight to see, dabtoes forward and the dustman aft, sitting there pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Well I had a little girl in donny-b,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
And did she make a fool of me,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Her heart was like a pussers shower,
Run a'hot to cold in a quarter of an hour,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning oh what a terrible sight to see, dabtoes forward and the dustman aft, sitting there pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
Hi yo, chicken on a raft!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
Hi yo, chicken on a raft!
Hey yo, chicken on a raft!
So we kissed goodbye on the midnight bus,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
But she didn't cry and she didn't fuss,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
So am I the man what she loves best,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Or am I just a cuckoo in another man's nest?
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning oh what a terrible sight to see, dabtoes forward and the dustman aft, sitting there pickin' at a chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Well am amazon girl lived in dumfries,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
She only had her kids in twos and threes,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
And her sister lives in maryhill,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
She says she won't but I think she will,
Hi yo chicken on a raft!
Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning oh what a terrible sight to see, dabtoes forward and the dustman aft, sitting there pickin' at a chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Hi yo, chicken on a raft
Hey yo, chicken on a raft
Eflabb
Great rendition - Keith and Alex used to sing this together with Roman Gladiator, Pogles Wood, Haul Away for Rosy, the Man who Waters the Workers Beer and many more at the Garribaldi in St Albans in the early '80's.
Paul Diss
This was the first 'Traditional' song I ever sang joining in the harmonies with a couple of lads who had obviously learned it from the YT. As it turns out it isn't exactly traditional, but it's a damn fine song and the YTversion is still the best I've ever heard.
zimmermanhead
With 'dabtoes' and 'dustmen' you were well wide of the mark. Dabtoes is simply a name for butter; the dustmen were the salt and pepper shakers - as in 'pass the dustmen' a common enough cry at mealtimes aboard ship. Great song, great performance. It made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck when I first heard the YT sing it in a folk club.
Tommy Paint
Absolutely fantastic!
I wish that I could find a group to join here in Seattle that does this stuff!
Kathleen Sturgis
Heather Wood is the only member of the Young Tradition still alive and kicking, and still singing this song!
Sean NH
I saw your comment was four years old so I got worried she kicked the bucket, but it looks like she's alive and well currently.
...well, I'm assuming she's well, I don't know her personally. xD
Kathleen Sturgis
@Sean NH Yes, Heather is still alive and definitely kicking. I just saw her on a zoom meeting from Mystic Seaport last week.
Kathleen Sturgis
And I do know her personally, though she never remembers my name (or anyone's, for that matter).
Chris Brown
@Kathleen Sturgis Her voice shines through though she only has a drone part here. I'm glad to have made the superficial acquaintance of this group.
Jerry Larkin
@Kathleen Sturgis maybe you could ask her if YT's two John Peel sessions including interviews with the band will ever be released next time you're in touch. Thanks