Chip

The song 'Chip' by The Real Mckenzies tells a dark and cautionary tale about a boatwright named Chip who makes a fateful deal with the Devil. The narrative begins with Chip working diligently in a boatyard on the River Thames, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. One day, the Devil appears, offering Chip a roll of copper and a bucket of nails in exchange for taking a rat, which symbolizes a pact with the Devil. Despite his disdain for the rat, Chip cannot resist the valuable materials and accepts the deal, setting off a chain of tragic events.

The rat, representing the Devil's influence, becomes an unkillable tormentor, driving Chip to madness. The rat's relentless attacks and the subsequent infestation of river rats symbolize the inescapable nature of the Devil's bargain. As Chip's life unravels, he loses his sanity, family, and job, ultimately being forced to join the King's Navy. The song uses vivid imagery and metaphors to illustrate Chip's descent into despair, highlighting the consequences of succumbing to temptation and making deals with malevolent forces.

The climax of the song sees Chip's final downfall as the rats chase him onto a ship, where they continue to torment him. His pleas to the captain are ignored, and he is thrown into the brig. The Devil rat, now in control, commands the rats to chew through the ship's planks, causing it to sink. The song ends with the ship's destruction and the rats dancing on the rocks, a grim reminder of the price Chip paid for his greed. The Real Mckenzies use this story to convey themes of temptation, the consequences of one's actions, and the inescapable nature of a deal with the Devil.