Chicken
Tempest Kate Lyrics
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He’s trying hard to listen without hating
But everything David says
Seems to make him like him less
His little brother Pete is waiting
For the appropriate place to say
‘Oh right, yeah’
And make an interested face
Miriam feels distant
She knows her sons are trying hard
But trying hard
Just increases the friction
It’s never been tense like this
Harry looks around at his mother’s new kitchen
And can’t help but think of his dad
Alone in that house where they all used to live
Putting his half pint of semi-skimmed
Back into the fridge
Dad
With his silent ways
And his smiling face
No romance, just basic
Straight forwards, no frills, no fuss
But at least he was a man you could trust
Not like this guy, this David
Face like a pill head at the end of a rave
Staring at my mum like he wants to be saved
Harry feels weak today, he can’t take it
And he doesn’t know it but he’s glaring
Thinking of Becky
And why he insisted on sharing
So much with a stranger
He feels a faint sense of danger
Ashamed that he’d made a
Fool of himself, he’s an idiot
Sees it in his mind’s eye, insidious
Him, spilling out his guts like a suicidal shogun
Looking for deliverance
Dithering fool feeling silly and hopelessly broken
Blithering on while she was smoking
What was he thinking?
Heart opening up like it was blinking
Becky. He feels her name, it’s heavy
Don’t forget me
Snap back to the room
He flinches at the image
Miriam is finishing her wine
And Pete is asking for the spinach
‘Er, how’s work, Harry?’
David’s features are tipped towards him
‘Fine, thanks,’ Harry looks up, ‘exhausting.’
‘Yes,’ David smiles, ‘but hard work is always rewarding.’
Even David’s enthusiasm is boring
‘How long have you worked there?’ he asks
And Harry thinks of all them years he’s spent
Scheming and shotting
‘Little while, now. To be honest, I’ve forgotten.’
‘Oh yes, well time does fly in the work place,’
David smiles, nodding
All he ever wanted to be was good enough
All he ever wanted to say was the right thing
But as long as you live for the way you’re perceived
You will never create, only bite things
All he ever wanted to do was the done thing
All he ever wanted to make was the grade
But as long as you live for other people’s opinions
You’ll never be more than afraid
The song "Chicken" by Tempest Kate tells the story of a family gathering where tensions run high between the members. Harry, the singer, is seemingly annoyed with David, his mother's new partner, and distances himself from the group by staring at his chicken. The singer sees David as a pill head who stares at his mother as if looking to be saved, and feels ashamed for sharing so much of himself with a stranger like Becky. Harry is also missing his father, who is alone in the house where they all used to live. In contrast to David, the father was a straightforward and trustworthy man.
Miriam, the mother, feels distant, and the singer perceives a tension that has never been there before. Harry's little brother, Pete, tries to keep the conversation going and make an interested face. David, on the other hand, seems enthusiastic but boring, and his words remind Harry of the many years he spent "scheming and shotting." The singer reflects on how he wanted to say the right thing and live for the way he was perceived, but this caused him to be afraid and never create anything worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Harry’s staring at his chicken
Harry is looking at his food, but his mind is elsewhere
He’s trying hard to listen without hating
He is attempting to pay attention to David, but is struggling to like him
But everything David says
Every sentence spoken by David
Seems to make him like him less
Results in Harry disliking David even more
His little brother Pete is waiting
Pete is hoping to add an innocent comment to the conversation
For the appropriate place to say
Waiting for a break in conversation to interject
‘Oh right, yeah’
A simple comment agreeing with the topic to appear interested
And make an interested face
To convince Harry and others an interest in conversation
Miriam feels distant
Miriam is feeling disconnected from her sons
She knows her sons are trying hard
Miriam is aware her sons are trying to make her happy
But trying hard
However, putting in effort
Just increases the friction
Only serves to create more tension
It’s never been tense like this
Their conversations have not been strained before
Harry looks around at his mother’s new kitchen
Harry stares at the surroundings of the room
And can’t help but think of his dad
He reflects on the memory of his father
Alone in that house where they all used to live
Harry recalls the feeling of being alone after his father left
Putting his half pint of semi-skimmed
Harry imagines his father returning groceries to the fridge
Back into the fridge
Returning the objects to their designated location
Dad
Harry is remembering his father
With his silent ways
His father was an individual of few words
And his smiling face
However, his father could express himself through body language
No romance, just basic
His father was very simple
Straight forwards, no frills, no fuss
He was uncomplicated and straightforward
But at least he was a man you could trust
Regardless, his father was dependable
Not like this guy, this David
In contrast to David, Harry does not trust him
Face like a pill head at the end of a rave
David's appearance resembles an exhausted and disoriented individual
Staring at my mum like he wants to be saved
David appears fixated on Miriam as if he needs her help
Harry feels weak today, he can’t take it
Harry feels unable to deal with David's presence
And he doesn’t know it but he’s glaring
He is unconsciously giving David a mean look
Thinking of Becky
Harry's mind drifts to his past experiences with Becky
And why he insisted on sharing
Harry questions why he sought out to connect with David
So much with a stranger
Sharing so much personal information with someone Harry does not know
He feels a faint sense of danger
Harry has an uneasy feeling about the situation
Ashamed that he’d made a
Feeling embarrassed for speaking so openly about himself with a stranger
Fool of himself, he’s an idiot
Feeling foolish and regretful for his previous actions
Sees it in his mind’s eye, insidious
The memory haunts him and feels malevolent
Him, spilling out his guts like a suicidal shogun
Comparing his confessions to a warrior's suicidal confession
Looking for deliverance
Harry was seeking release or salvation
Dithering fool feeling silly and hopelessly broken
He lacks confidence and feels hopeless
Blithering on while she was smoking
Continuing to talk, despite Becky smoking
What was he thinking?
Wondering the rationale behind his past choices
Heart opening up like it was blinking
He exposed his true emotions to Becky rapidly
Becky. He feels her name, it’s heavy
Becky's name brings up past emotions and disappointments
Don’t forget me
Harry pleads to not be forgotten
Snap back to the room
Harry comes back to the present situation
He flinches at the image
Harry is uncomfortable with the situation
Miriam is finishing her wine
She is near the bottom of her glass of wine
And Pete is asking for the spinach
Pete asks for the vegetable on the table
‘Er, how’s work, Harry?’
David makes small talk with Harry
David’s features are tipped towards him
David is leaning towards Harry while talking to him
‘Fine, thanks,’ Harry looks up, ‘exhausting.’
Harry responds that work is tiring yet fine.
‘Yes,’ David smiles, ‘but hard work is always rewarding.’
David responds positively by confirming the reward of difficult work
Even David’s enthusiasm is boring
Harry finds the response dull despite David's positive attitude
‘How long have you worked there?’ he asks
David wants additional information about Harry's job
And Harry thinks of all them years he’s spent
Harry reflects on how long he has been working in that job
Scheming and shotting
Although he has worked for a while, Harry has also been selling drugs
‘Little while, now. To be honest, I’ve forgotten.’
Harry admits he forgot how long he worked at his job
‘Oh yes, well time does fly in the work place,’
David agrees and acknowledges how fast time passes while working
David smiles, nodding
David agrees and smiles in response
All he ever wanted to be was good enough
Harry always strives to meet other's expectations
All he ever wanted to say was the right thing
Harry wants to always have the best response suitable for the moment
But as long as you live for the way you’re perceived
When living primarily for how people view you
You will never create, only bite things
You will never build something, but instead will destruct
All he ever wanted to do was the done thing
Harry always wanted to act within the standard norm
All he ever wanted to make was the grade
Harry all sought to receive the highest marks possible
But as long as you live for other people’s opinions
Living for others' perceptions of you
You’ll never be more than afraid
You'll never exceed your expectations and will remain limited
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DE MUSSENDEN CAREY, KATE TEMPEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind