Chicken on a Raft (Cyril Tawney) - Video
PUBLISHED:  Feb 17, 2009
DESCRIPTION:
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THIS THUMBS DOWN: A question: What are you expecting from it? Did you want to hear someone do a carbon copy of The Young Tradition rendition? There are plenty of copies of that and Tawney's on YouTube. The point of this is to be a raw, chantey-style envisioning.... to bring Tawney's "mock shanty" closer to the sound of a work song.... So please comment on what displeased you, so I can get why this video has so many thumbs downs compared to my others.

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English folksinger Cyril Tawney wrote this as a "mock shanty." For fun, I've rendered it a bit more like a traditional shanty from the days of sail. I've trimmed the longer format to give it the structure of a capstan shanty. A jauntier rhythm. Part of the process also involved ironing out stage-y things, like how, in the best-known recording by the Young Tradition, they hold out the word "aft" (A traditional shanty would more often stay in rhythm continuously). Of course, I have also "Americanized" it in a way, since I am American!-- although this jars a bit with the 20th century British Navy jargon. Finally, treating it like a traditional song, I've allowed for alterations and improv in the lyrics and tune. It is a very wordy song, and hard to sing both parts, call AND response by oneself-- not enough breath for it all!

Thanks to a youtuber for suggesting I learn this one.
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