THE FOGGY FOGGY BANKS
(Anon)

Out on the foggy foggy banks
We pitch and toss about
And blow our frozen fingers
When we hear our skipper shout

Chorus:
Heave away on your capstan, lads
Give a hand to heave the trawl
When we get the fish on board
We’ll have another haul
Heave away on your capstan, lads
Give a hand to heave the trawl
In the middle of the night, heave ho ye all

When I was but a lad at school, I would not stay at home
Like lots of other foolish lads, I thought I’d sooner roam
Soon I joined a trawler and there I quickly found
It wasn’t no plain sailing, when I reached the trawlin’ ground

Chorus

Sailing on the ocean far from the Port of Bluff
The southern gale is rising and the sea starts getting rough
When waves are falling ‘round us and pounding on the deck
It’s hard to keep your footing as you try to save your neck

Chorus

We work our guts out day and night, our backs are stiff and sore
There’s nothing more inviting than safe ashore once more
When the work is finally over, hard up our tiller goes
West by south to the harbour’s mouth, to the big jib on her nose

Chorus (x2)

A song from the fishermen of Bluff. The above lyrics are those in Phil Garland's recording. This version is longer than that printed at page 48 of 'Song of a Young Country'.

Youtube clip

--Stewie.