Lyr Req: Here's to the Lads at the Fishing and...

Subject: Heres to the lads @ fishing and trawling
From: nutty
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 03:11 PM

I've just acquired a copy of the LP - A SPRIG OF WHITE HEATHER - recorded in 1965 by Robin Hall ,Jimmy MacGregor and others.(50P in a Charity Shop)

On the record is this sea song written by Roddy MacMillan
The chorus starts
Here's to the lads at the fishing and trawling
Setting their nets and a -baiting and hauling

Unfortunately the scots accent beats me after that

I'd love the rest of the words ---- Can anyone help? PLEASE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 08:11 PM

Sounds surprisingly like Here's to the Grimsby Lads by Bill Meek and John Connoly, Hazel?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Noreen
Date: 03 Oct 01 - 08:17 PM

I'll try again... Grimsby Lads

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: nutty
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 03:25 AM

It's certainly not the Grimsby Lads, Noreen and being recorded in 1965 should pre-date Grimsby Lads by a few years - shouldn't it??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Oct 01 - 09:09 AM

Probably, Hazel, I wondered about that- though it is one of their earlier compositions. There's no copyright date either on the CD or in the songbook, so can't confirm.

Anyway, this is a different song! Served to keep the thread refreshed...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: nutty
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 03:51 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: radriano
Date: 05 Oct 01 - 11:08 AM

My first thought was that it might be "Grimsby Lads" as well. John Conolly & Bill Meek wrote "Grimsby Lads" quite a while ago - I understand it was one of their first collaborations. However, this song is attributed to an author which makes it unlikely. Any chance you can post some more lyrics Nutty?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Wolfgang
Date: 07 Oct 01 - 03:37 AM

According to Palmer's Oxford book of sea songs 'Grimsby lads' was written in 1966, rather close to the recording date of the other release, 1965. Interesting. I'd love to see the lyrics of the other song for closer scrutiny.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Oct 01 - 03:27 PM

Interesting, Wolfgang!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 11:28 AM

I found this rather nice web site called TheBalladeers which contains a discography for Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor, among others. It lists the album you mention, but does not list the songs.

Here's another Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor discography, but it doesn't have the album.

Nutty, what's the TITLE of the song you're asking about? Is it the same as the first line of the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: nutty
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 12:18 PM

I'd given up on this one...... thanx Jim .... for still looking. I think it starts with the chorus but I'll have to listen to it again to make sure

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Jan 02 - 12:29 PM

Here is the e mail (and website) for The Balladeers. Page is maintained by Nick Kelly who sometimes checks in here. He is the guy that opened for Seamus in Aurora, remember? Apparently he owns the album in question, and if you e mailed him might answer.

[e-mail]
www.theballadeers.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 09:51 AM

Nutty, perhaps you misunderstood. I was asking for the TITLE of the song. Please look on the record label and/or album cover to find the title.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: nutty
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 12:56 PM

The title is as stated>>>>
Heres to the lads at the fishing and trawling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jan 02 - 01:19 PM

I e mailed Nick, he is going to look when he gets home. If he has them, he'll post them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: GUEST,Nick Kelly
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 07:48 AM

Sorry...if I have the lyrics, I can't find them.

If I find them I shall post them. Thanks to all for the website plugs and kind words.

Nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 03:59 PM

Some day we'll have closure on this thread. Is this the same song where in one chorus varient "We're shooting the nets." Always was a rather alarming image...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jan 02 - 08:26 PM

Thanks for trying, Nick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 18 Jan 02 - 04:15 AM

The lyrics sounds like they'd go well with the song

The boys from Tandaragee...

Wot do yous reckon?

Ella

Subject: Lyr Add: HERE'S TO THE LADS AT THE FISHING AND...
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 03:13 PM

I have this song on Robin & Jimmie MacGregor's 'Scotland's Best' album, released on the Beltona label around 1975. A reissue of an earlier release I expect. I've recently had it, and several other Robin & Jimmie vinyl LPs, transferred onto CD so am able to enjoy their fine singing all over again.

One or two of the 'Broad Scots' words had me scratching my head, but the gist of what they sing is this I think:-

1. Here's tae the lads at the fishing and trawling,
Setting and netting and baiting and hauling.
Cannae get eating or sleeping at sea
'Til we pit oor gear in order.

2. I'd rather be home in a fine warm bed,
My mother's old plaid folded under my head.
It's better than hiding away from the rain,
And the wind making eyes in the hawsers.

So, here's tae the lads etc etc

3. If I had Karrisk - yo'na (?) I'd never want more
Than a house with some arable down by the shore,
A barn and a byre and a place for the cow,
And a wee highland horse in the meadow.

So, here's tae the lads etc etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Alexis
Date: 27 Dec 04 - 07:03 PM

Well done Richard (not Gendall is it?) The lyrics remind me of my fishing days, don't know what Karrisk is, but I packed in fishing some 30 years ago for the very same reasons that Robie and Jimie mentioned - too much like hard work. Nice to see the end to a request hope Nutty is still catting.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: nutty
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:00 PM

I am indeed still around Alexis. I couldn't do without this place.
Richard ...thank you so much for your trouble . I'm sure the original will make much more sense now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Heres to the lads @ fishing and traw
From: Dickie
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 06:26 AM

Glad to have been able to oblige Nutty. Sorry that you've had to wait so long ! I came across this site quite by chance the other day while researching guitar chords for another song recorded by Robin Hall & Jimmie MacGregor (Tatties and Herrin'). As regards Fishing and Trawling, the only word I'm not sure about is in line 1 3rd verse : I've written it down as "Karrisk - yo'na" because that's what it sounds like in the song. I'm sure it's not spelt that way. It may be a gaelic expression or place name. I don't have the gaelic so if there are any gaelic speakers out there who might be able to help, it would be nice to hear from you ?

Thanks for your thanks Alexis. It's Fraser by the way, not Gendall. Born near Inverness but now living in Kent.

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Lads at the Fishing and...
From: GUEST,Kirsty
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 01:07 AM

I'm not absolutely sure of this (especially since I've never heard the song), but I know a little Gaelic and a lot of Gaelic songs, and I'd be willing to bet that what sounds like Karrisk yo-na is a girl's name, Cairistiona. It's the Gaelic form of Christina, and gets pronounced variously as Karris tyona, Kahr is chee na, etc. Given the context, it makes sense -- "have girl, will settle down to farming".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Lads at the Fishing and...
From: GUEST,Steve Byrne
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 04:56 PM

I came across this song recently on an archive tape I'm cataloguing and I'm told that it's translation of the Gaelic song "Balaich an Iasgaich" [The Fisher Lads]. There's a version of it here. Hope this helps and / or is still relevant to the original poster. Thanks to the splendid Lewis singer Margaret Stewart for her help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Here's to the Lads at the Fishing and...
From: GUEST,Von
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 10:15 AM

I have no idea if anyone will even read this so many years down the line, but growing up in a fishing village in the north east highlands I knew this well as a child!

It goes like this as memory serves me (it is only memory, so may not be 100% on the money)

Here's to the lads at the fishing and trawling,
setting and betting and baiting and hauling,
working and eating and sleeping at sea,
while we get our gear in order.

I'd rather be home in my fine warm bed,
my mothers old plaid folded under my head,
its better than fighting and keeping out the rain,
with the wind blowing holes in the holster.

Here's tae the lads etc!

It'd be easier to sing, but best not inflict anyone who may stumble across this!