Dabtoes forward and the dustmen aft
November 1, 2017 4:56 AM Subscribe
Chicken on a Raft is a sea-shanty. But what the hell is it about?
While you may be thinking of Alan Tudyk's Heihei, this song refers to the Naval delicacy of a fried egg on fried bread. It's not as old as you might guess, being written by Cyril Tawney in the 1960s and recorded by the Young Tradition in 1967. The lyrics are a bit hard to understand being full of Naval slang which is deciphered and discussed in this thread.
The song has been perplexing and/or annoying people on the internet for some time thanks to the Chicken on a Raft challenge.
Previously: 1 2
While you may be thinking of Alan Tudyk's Heihei, this song refers to the Naval delicacy of a fried egg on fried bread. It's not as old as you might guess, being written by Cyril Tawney in the 1960s and recorded by the Young Tradition in 1967. The lyrics are a bit hard to understand being full of Naval slang which is deciphered and discussed in this thread.
The song has been perplexing and/or annoying people on the internet for some time thanks to the Chicken on a Raft challenge.
Previously: 1 2
this song refers to the Naval delicacy of a fried egg on fried bread.
See also "Adam and Eve on a raft and wreck'em," "Toad in a hole," and "Shit on a shingle."
posted by octobersurprise at 5:50 AM on November 1, 2017
See also "Adam and Eve on a raft and wreck'em," "Toad in a hole," and "Shit on a shingle."
posted by octobersurprise at 5:50 AM on November 1, 2017
Shit on shingles is creamed chipped beef on toast.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:55 AM on November 1, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:55 AM on November 1, 2017 [5 favorites]
Heh. I've known this song for a couple decades, learned at a weekly chantey sing at a pub. It's a big favorite and fun to sing. It's hilarious that it's become an internet challenge. It's definitely more fun to sing than to listen to incessantly.
It's a nice example of the chantey tradition being continued by contemporary songwriters. It even scans like a double-pull halyard chantey, with two emphasized beats on the chorus line, so you could use it on a sailing vessel.
posted by Miko at 6:17 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's a nice example of the chantey tradition being continued by contemporary songwriters. It even scans like a double-pull halyard chantey, with two emphasized beats on the chorus line, so you could use it on a sailing vessel.
posted by Miko at 6:17 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
For a similar musical commentary on changing nautical terminology, see Tom Lewis' The Last Shanty. Lyrics.
posted by Miko at 6:19 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Miko at 6:19 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
Oh, hey! My crew has been singing this song in our live shows for a while now. It's always a crowd-pleaser.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:14 AM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:14 AM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]
If you're looking for another nuclear submariner shanty, which is also a Tom Lewis song (two great tastes--Tom Lewis is who I first heard singing Chicken on a Raft), try Diesel and Shale
posted by Sing Fool Sing at 8:11 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Sing Fool Sing at 8:11 AM on November 1, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's what I always prepare for the Handsome Cabin Boy for breakfast. Our little secret...
posted by humboldt32 at 10:22 AM on November 1, 2017
posted by humboldt32 at 10:22 AM on November 1, 2017
Apparently I know far too much RN slang.
The definitive glossary is Jackspeak, collected by the incomparable Rick Jolly.
posted by Combat Wombat at 6:53 PM on November 1, 2017
The definitive glossary is Jackspeak, collected by the incomparable Rick Jolly.
posted by Combat Wombat at 6:53 PM on November 1, 2017
If you like shanties, you might like our group, The Valparaiso Men's Chorus(YT).
posted by garbhoch at 1:57 PM on November 2, 2017
posted by garbhoch at 1:57 PM on November 2, 2017
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posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:29 AM on November 1, 2017 [2 favorites]