Chicken On A Raft – Learning Tracks

On the sleeve notes of the Young Tradition’s EP where this song first appeared, it says:

“This is not a shanty, though it could well have been had it been made a hundred years ago. It was compiled by Cyril Tawney, in traditional shanty fashion, from verses that made themselves inside his head while he was in the submarine service. In older days Chicken on a Raft, with the barest changes from its form on this record, could easily have been tipped at the capstan bars.”

We have still included it here in our Sea Shanty section, but it’s just a great song in its own right as well!  A stonking complaint about life in the navy.   Easy to adapt for 3 parts (or less) if required. Complete with a glossary of naval terms!

  Click for Sheet Music