Lyr Req: The Silver Darlin's (Battlefield Band)

Subject: Info req: 'if you canna find a fish'
From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 02:45 PM

Some months back I heard a song which has these lines in its chorus (perhaps remembered only approximately):

Dinna blame the fisherfolk for working for the oil,
for if you canna find a fish you've nothing for your toil.

Does anyone know what is the title of this song, and who is its author ?

Thanks,

T.

Subject: RE: Info req: 'if you canna find a fish'
From: Susan A-R
Date: 19 Apr 00 - 10:34 PM

There was an earlier thread on this, believe the song is entitled Between the Beggar's Mantle and the Lights O- Peterhead. I also believe that it was written by someone in the Battlefield Band. I'll go up and try a search and come back with more info if I can find it.

Susan a-R

Subject: RE: Info req: 'if you canna find a fish'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Oct 10 - 01:54 PM

The song is THE SILVER DARLIN'S, written by Brian McNeill and Dougie Pincock (members of the Battlefield Band) and recorded by The Battlefield Band with Alison Kinnard; also by The Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh, Anna Massie, Alastair McDonald, and The Wickford Express.

The first line is—

"Between the beggar's mantle and the Lights o' Peterhead"

And the lines that Okiemockbird was trying to quote are—

"So dinna blame the fisher folk for taking to the oil,
For if they couldna find the fish, they'd nothing for their toil"

The complete lyrics have been posted at Mudcat here and here.