Mia Patel
Chicken on a Raft is a song by Cyril Tawney, an English singer-songwriter known for his traditional songs of the Southwest of England and maritime songs. The song, which follows the call-and-response style of sea shanties, refers to an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy: fried egg on fried bread. The phrase chicken on a raft is naval slang for this dish, which was considered a monotonous meal by sailors, symbolizing the hardships and repetition of naval life. The song, with its catchy melody and relatable themes, has become a favourite among folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities, with various artists performing it over the years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lyricist | Cyril Tawney |
| Performer | The Young Tradition, Jim Mageean, Johnny Collins, Jiig, Corncrow, Sound Tradition, The Longest Johns |
| Genre | Sea shanty |
| Meaning | Fried egg on toast, an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy |
| Symbolism | Sailors' weariness of repetitive meals and routines, representing the monotony and hardships of naval service |
| Additional Context | Chickens are believed to survive shipwrecks, so a chicken on a raft could indicate a recent shipwreck |
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What You'll Learn
Naval slang for fried egg on toast
"Chicken on a raft" is naval slang for a fried egg on toast. The phrase originates from the song of the same name by Cyril Tawney, a former Royal Navy submariner who often drew inspiration from his time in the Navy for his music. The song, which follows the call-and-response style of sea shanties, references an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy:
> Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning, Oh, what a terrible sight to see, The Dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft, Sittin' there a'pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
The "terrible sight" in the song refers not to the quality of the meal but to the monotony and hardships of naval service, with sailors growing weary of repetitive meals and routines. In the context of the song, "Dabtoes for'ard and the dustmen aft" refers to the seating order (and pecking order) at the table. According to naval slang dictionaries, "dustmen" are stokers, while "dabtoes" are "surface sailors".
Tawney's song has been performed and recorded by various artists, including The Young Tradition, who popularised it in the 1960s with their nautical EP "Chicken on a Raft". The song's catchy melody and relatable themes have made it a favourite among folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities.
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Sailors' weariness of repetitive meals
"Chicken on a Raft" is a song by Cyril Tawney, an English singer-songwriter with a rich history in maritime service. Tawney spent much of his working life as a Royal Navy submariner, and his songs are coloured by his experiences in the Navy. "Chicken on a Raft" is no exception, with its lyrics reflecting the sailors' weariness of repetitive meals and routines.
The song refers to an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy, consisting of fried egg on fried bread, or, in naval slang, "fried egg on toast". The full phrase, "chicken on a raft", is used to describe the unappetising sight of this monotonous meal, which was a common source of tedium for sailors. The song's chorus highlights this sentiment:
> Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
> Oh, what a terrible sight to see,
> The Dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft,
> Sittin' there a'pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
The lyrics "Dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft" refer to the seating order at the table. According to naval slang, "dustmen" are stokers, and "dabtoes" are "surface sailors". The latter term may also refer to butter, derived from the Royal Navy slang "babies' toes" for knobs of butter.
The song "Chicken on a Raft" gained popularity in the 1960s when it was performed by The Young Tradition. Its catchy melody and relatable themes resonated with folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities alike. The song's success led to it being included as the title track of their 1967 nautical EP. Since then, it has been performed by various artists, including Jim Mageean and Johnny Collins, who included it on their 1983 album Strontrace!.
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Sea shanty by Cyril Tawney
Cyril Tawney was an English singer-songwriter and proponent of traditional songs of the Southwest of England, as well as traditional and modern maritime songs. Tawney was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England, and joined the Royal Navy at the age of sixteen, serving for thirteen years, several of which were spent in submarines. During this period, he developed a lifelong interest in English traditional music.
Tawney's song "Chicken on a Raft" is naval slang for a fried egg on toast, an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy. The song follows the call and response style of sea shanties and is compiled from verses that formed in his head while he was in the submarine service. The song was first recorded by The Young Tradition in 1967 as the title track of their nautical EP "Chicken on a Raft".
The lyrics of "Chicken on a Raft" mention a skipper in the wardroom drinking gin and the singer knocking but not going in. The chorus is repeated after each verse:
> Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
> Oh, what a terrible sight to see,
> Dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft,
> Sittin' there a-pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
The term "dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft" refers to the seating order (and pecking order) at the table. According to naval slang dictionaries, "dustmen" are stokers, and "dabtoes" are defined as "surface sailors".
The song has been performed by various artists, including The Young Tradition, who popularised it in the 1960s. Its catchy melody and relatable themes have made it a favourite among folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities.
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Reference to an unpopular Royal Navy dish
"Chicken on a Raft" is a song by Cyril Tawney, an English singer-songwriter known for his traditional songs of the Southwest of England and maritime songs. Tawney himself served in the Royal Navy for thirteen years, several of which were spent in submarines, and this is where he drew inspiration for many of his songs, including "Chicken on a Raft".
The song "Chicken on a Raft" is full of naval slang and makes reference to an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy: fried egg on fried bread. The slang term "chicken on a raft" refers to this meal, which was apparently a monotonous breakfast for sailors, symbolizing the broader monotony and hardships of naval service.
The song's chorus reflects this sentiment of weariness with repetitive meals and routines:
> Chicken on a raft on a Monday morning,
> Oh, what a terrible sight to see,
> The Dabtoes forrard and the dustmen aft,
> Sittin' there a'pickin' at a chicken on a raft!
In the context of the song, "Dabtoes" refers to butter, specifically "babies' toes", which was Royal Navy slang for knobs of butter. "Dustmen", on the other hand, refers to stokers, while "dabtoes" in this context means "surface sailors".
The song has been performed by various artists, including The Young Tradition, who popularized it in the 1960s with their nautical EP "Chicken on a Raft". The catchy melody and relatable themes of the song have made it a favourite among folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities.
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Monotony and hardships of naval service
"Chicken on a Raft" is a song by Cyril Tawney, a former member of the Royal Navy. Tawney spent several years of his naval career in submarines, which inspired many of his songs, including "Chicken on a Raft". The song is full of naval slang and references an unpopular dish served in the Royal Navy: fried egg on fried bread, also known as "chicken on a raft". The phrase "chicken on a raft" is used to describe this meal, which was monotonous and tedious for sailors, symbolizing the hardships and monotony of naval service.
The song's lyrics reflect the sailors' weariness of repetitive meals and routines, with the ""terrible sight" referring not to the quality of the food but to the unchanging nature of life at sea. The dish "chicken on a raft" represents this monotony, as sailors had to endure the same meals day after day, contributing to the hardships of their service.
The phrase "dabtoes for'ard and the dustmen aft" in the song refers to the seating order at the table. According to naval slang, "dustmen" are stokers, while "dabtoes" are "surface sailors". The song also mentions a "skipper in the wardroom drinking gin", indicating a more relaxed atmosphere among the sailors despite the monotony of their meals and routines.
The song "Chicken on a Raft" has been performed and recorded by various artists, including The Young Tradition, who popularized it in the 1960s. The catchy melody and relatable themes of the song have made it a favourite among folk music enthusiasts and maritime communities. It continues to be a well-known song that sheds light on the hardships and monotony of naval service, particularly the repetitive meals that sailors had to endure.
In conclusion, "chicken on a raft" is a slang term for a fried egg on toast, an unpopular meal among sailors due to its monotony. The song by Cyril Tawney, a former submariner, captures the hardships and tedium of naval service, where sailors faced repetitive meals and routines. The phrase has become a symbol of the challenging and unchanging aspects of life at sea, reflecting the weariness and resilience of those who serve.
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Frequently asked questions
"Chicken on a raft" is naval slang for a fried egg on toast.
"Chicken on a raft" is considered a terrible sight because sailors are weary of repetitive meals and routines, symbolizing the broader monotony and hardships of naval service.
The term was popularized by Cyril Tawney, a former Royal Navy submariner who composed songs about his experiences in the Navy.
