Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: GeorgeH Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:43 AM A few observations . . 1) The Liza Carthy version of the song I know from the Banddogs LP (see recent threads re; Dave Bulmer/CM, Nic Jones and Tony Rose . . I think it's been mentioned in it); I think Chris Coe (of Ryburn 3 Step - at Sidmouth this year - and formerly of Banddogs) still sings it also. 2) The definitive version of Shoals of Herring has to be the one from the Radio Ballad - which, remember, is now available on Topic CD. 3) I have a tape of a radio broadcast of MacColl/Seeger where Ewan boast of the fact that, since he wrote "Shoals of Herring", it has been collected back "from the tradition" a large number of times and in multiple languages. (Sorry, I can't remember the numbers, but Ewan could exagerate such things anyway . . ) 4) By the account I have of Sam Larner's claim to have known the song all his life he was trying to "grope" Peggy's knees at the same time . . taking advantage of his wife's failing eyesight . . G. |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: GeorgeH Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:45 AM Oh, missed this last time . . The "Fishgutters song" Tattie mentions sounds very much as if it, too, is from the Radio Ballad "Singing the Fishing". G. |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Tattie Bogle Date: 20 Jul 01 - 08:15 PM I've just listened to it again and they went further than I thought - Lerwick and Stornoway to mention but a couple of far-flung plaices! Tattie B |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Hawker Date: 21 Jul 01 - 05:18 AM The Baring Gould collected version of this song is similar to those above, but has a sort of chorus which (from vague memory) goes: Hark! Hark! and see how you do lie And so do you as well as I well! well! well and again And I thinke I made well of my Jolly herring Amazing how the same song has so many variants, Wonderful stuff! Lucy |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HARRIN'S HEED (trad Newcastle) From: GUEST,NSC Date: 21 Jul 01 - 07:33 AM What about this Geordie version sung regularly in Newcastle
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's heed,
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's eyes,
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's fins,
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's back,
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's belly,
What'll wi dee wi' the harrin's tail, A few more HTML line breaks added, and double spacing deleted. --JoeClone, 25-Jun-02. |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Shields Folk Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:37 PM GUEST NSC, You missed out "how are you the day me hinny-o" from the end of the chorus of the Tyneside version. |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 21 Jul 01 - 02:46 PM I have now added a list of material relating to this song to the Penguin: The Red Herring thread. |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: GUEST,NSC Date: 23 Jul 01 - 02:04 PM Shields Folk You are right of course. I think its a case of familiarity breeds contempt as i sing the sing regularly and never miss out the chorus. Ah well. Part of the problem is being exiled from Geordieland. But life is very good here in Tipperary. thanks for the correction |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Joe Offer Date: 24 Dec 03 - 07:35 PM It's Christmas Eve, and the Polish Sisterhood (my wife and her mother) are cooking up a storm in the kitchen. It's great to hear them laugh and enjoy each other's company. We're having mushroom soup and home-made cheesecake, and I'm cooking up a pork roast to serve with my mother-in-law's applesauce. They sent me out in the storm this afternoon to buy pickled herring, which they say is an essential in a traditional Polish Christmas dinner. Then there's some sort of bread, oplatek, that looks like Catholic communion wafers - we break that and wish blessings on each other. So, in honor of those herrings, I'd like to refresh this thread. Blessings to you all! -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: GUEST Date: 09 Feb 04 - 12:21 PM does anyone have the lyrics to Ian Campbell's version of theHerring Song - it's similar to those previously posted, but has an extra stanza on the end about "haveing done so well" with me jolly herring. cheers finbar |
Subject: RE: Lyric:The Herring Song From: Cuilionn Date: 09 Feb 04 - 08:57 PM 'Tis grait tae revisit this threid-- Ah sing "Herrin's Hied" wi aa manner o audiences, frae bairnies tae elders, an ev'ryane seems tae love it! Ah lairnit ma vairsion aff Cilla Fisher's "Singing Kettle" recordings (Scottish children's music series) wi additional bits gaitherit alang the way. Ane o ma Scots Gaelic students addit a vairse in whilk the "herrin's teeth" mak a "Christmas wreath." Frichtenin thocht, aye? Regairdin the vairsion set doon by Baring-Gould, here's a recordin for those whae'd like tae gie it a listen: "Dead Maid's Land: Traditional Songs from Devon & Cornwall from the collection of Sabine Baring-Gould" (WGS 292CD, copyricht 1998 WildGoose Studios, Wherwell, Hampshire, SP11 7JS). --Cuilionn |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Kevin L Rietmann Date: 08 Mar 07 - 11:26 AM I love this song, and here is another short recording of it, Seamus Ennis in 1951 recorded by Alan Lomax. The tune Seamus uses is similiar to Pretty Molly Brallaghan or the jig Maid in the Meadow (which Seamus called the Stone in the Field) or the reel the Green Fields of America. It's also on Topics Voice of the People Vol 14, with another melody - don't know which one is sung usually. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Scrump Date: 08 Mar 07 - 11:38 AM Surprisingly (unless I missed it above) no-one seems to have mentioned the Dubliners' version of this (with Ronnie Drew on lead vocal). It was on their 1968 album Drinkin' & Courtin'. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Deckman Date: 08 Mar 07 - 12:45 PM And no one seems to have mentioned: "Taddies and Herring." For me, there is NO better food than pickled herring, raw salmon, and Villi (villia). CHEERS, Bob |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Gulliver Date: 08 Mar 07 - 02:43 PM Years ago I heard a song sung in O'Donohues in Dublin that went: There was an oul' object washed in on the tide Half a mile long and half a mile wide. chorus: With me Johnnie sez she, me bonny, sez she, One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me bonny sez she. And what do you think we made out of its head...etc. (goes through all the parts as in some of the songs listed above--the final few verses are unprintable). Never came across this anywhere else... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: DannyC Date: 08 Mar 07 - 05:10 PM Gulliver, The Ronnie Drew song that Scrump mentions above is likely similar to the song that you heard in O'Donoghue's. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: EBarnacle Date: 08 Mar 07 - 09:49 PM Generally, around here, we go with What'll we do with the Shadfish Tail? and so forth based upon a version which is similar to Tim Jacques' version. We generally get runs of shad in the spring, when they come up river to spawn. There is currently a moratorium on Hudson River shad fishing to allow the population to recover. Any shad and shad roe available in the stores is supposed to come from other river stocks. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Scrump Date: 09 Mar 07 - 03:15 AM The Ronnie Drew song that Scrump mentions above is likely similar to the song that you heard in O'Donoghue's Gulliver, are you sure it wasn't Ronnie singing it on that occasion? What year would it be? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Gulliver Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:25 PM Scrump, it was sung by Noel Carroll, who was a regular in O'D's at that time. He later joined up with Gerry Crilly and (I think) Seán Óg McKenna to form Rakish Paddies. That was Christmas of the year I met a nice-looking French girl in East Berlin at the World Youth Festival and she arrived in Dublin unannounced on a visit and managed to lock herself in the mens' toilets in O'Dwyers, just across the road from O'D's. We were thrown out of O'Dwyers and went across to O'D's where I heard this song. That would make it 1973. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Dave Hunt Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:40 PM A very long while ago in thai thread Tim Jaques asked I left out one verse because I couldn't understand Foster's accent no matter how hard I tried. It sounds like: And what do we do with the old herring's guts, We'll make them into comic cuts, Herring's cuts, comic cuts, And all such things. Which is quite correct! Comic Cuts was a weekly kids comic in the 1890 -1953 see http://www.bl.uk/popups/ccuts.html Comic Cuts was also the term used in The Andrew (The Royal Navy) for a seaman's record sheet - as in Cyril Tawney's Chicken on a Raft Jimmy's (short for Jimmy the One = 1st Lieutenant)laughin' like a drain Been lookin' at me Comic Cuts again etc... Back to the original request - there is a terrific version recorded by the late Johnny Doughty on 'Round Rye Bay for More' (an LP on Topic) What'll we do with the herrin's head We'll Make it into loaves of bread Herrin' head, loaves of bread an' all such things Of all the fish that's in the sea, the herrin' is the fish for me Sing wack fa doodle die-doe Wack fa doodle day. Then it's cumulative to: What'll we do with the herrin's guts We'll make 'em into Comic cuts Herrin's guts, Comic Cuts, Herrin's tail, ships that sail Herrin's back, fishin' smacks Herrin's belly, jams an' jellies Herrins fins , needles an' pins Herrin's eyes , puddin's an' pies Herrin's head loaves of bread An' all such things Of all the fish....etc... sunshine and smiles Dave www.sunshinearts.co.uk |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: EBarnacle Date: 09 Mar 07 - 11:38 PM Herring's guts, sailor's boots |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: GUEST,menderman Date: 21 Apr 15 - 04:31 AM does any one know the words to the song that has the chorus and one of the verses is Blue whitings in season up there off St Kilda so we'll rig a deep trawl and all head out west but as tow after tow has been landed for fish meal Blue Whiting will go just the same as the rest 'and what will we do when the herring all finished what will we do when the herrings all gone what will we do with our Pussers and Trawlers how will we ever pay off the bank loan |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Megan L Date: 21 Apr 15 - 05:40 AM Menderman can't pinpoint those lyrics it might get more attention if you start a new thread about it since this is quite an old thread. I will keep cudgelling this slow brain to find it. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Jim Carroll Date: 21 Apr 15 - 09:13 AM We recorded this from a Kerry Travelelr in London in the 1970s Jim Carroll The Herring (Roud 128) Rec. from Mikeen McCarthy There was an old man who lived in Kenmare, He used have some herrings and herrings for sale, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his back1 Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. A fine old man and his name it was Jack, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing back, sing man, sing Jack, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his belly, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, A fine old girl and her name it was Nelly, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing belly, sing girl sing Nelly, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his head, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest sledge that ever cut stones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing head sing sledge, sing bed, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his teeth, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest chisels that ever cut steel, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing teeth, sing teeth, sing steel, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin1 So what do you think they made of his tongue, Sing avaro lin, sing avero lin, The finest spring that ever did sprung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing tongue, sing spring, sing sprung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his mouth, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest kettle that ever did spout, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing mouth, sing kettle, sing spout, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his nose, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest hammer that ever broke stones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing nose, sing hammer, sing stones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his eyes, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest saucer that ever held spies, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin1 Sing herring, sing eyes, sing saucer, sing spies, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think they made of his bones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, The finest punches that ever punched stones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing bones1 sing punches, sing stones, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin1 And yet I have more of my song to be sung, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. So what do you think we made of his tail, Sing avaro lift, sing avaro lin, The finest ship that ever sought sail, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, Sing herring, sing tail, sing ship, sing sail, Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin, And now I have no more of my song to be sung1 Sing avaro lin, sing avaro lin. This has been claimed by some folklorists to be a corrupt descendant of part of the practice of the sacrificial slaughter of animals, which, in its turn, was said to have replaced the ceremony of appointing a man king for a given period, then killing him and scattering his blood and dismembered parts over the land to ensure a good crop. The same claim has been made of other songs, such as The Derby Ram, The Mallard and The Wren, though, if this is the case, and there is little evidence to support such claims; they have, as A.L.Lloyd put it, "in the course of the long centuries, lapsed into burlesque". Such songs have been found all over Britain, Ireland, The United States and Canada, as well as Europe. In Southern France the victim is the "gentille alouette", or gentle skylark. More recently "The Herring" was put to far more benign uses. The cumulative versions of the song were often used as tests of vocal dexterity and memory, "tongue twisters"; for instance, coal miner Jack Elliot of Birtley, County Durham sang; Harrin's scales, a ship that sails, Herrin's tail, a barrel of ale, Harrin's belly, a lass caa'ed Nellie, Harrin's guts, a pair of byuts (boots), Harrin's heid, loaves of breid, And aal manner of things. Of all the fish that live in the sea, The Harrin' is the one for me. How are ye the day, how are ye the day, How are ye the day my hinny O. The singer who gave it to collector Fred Hamer said that her grandfather used it as a street cry when selling herrings in Buckinghamshire, and in New England, aptly enough in Cape Cod, it was said to have been used as a cradle song by men. Elsewhere in America and also in a Scots version, the herring is replaced and becomes a pig or sow dying of the measles. Reference Journal of The Folk Song Society 1916 Folk Song In England A L Lloyd Jack Elliot of Birley LP record Green Groves Fred Hamer A Treasury of New England Folklore B A Botkin. Miscellanea of The Rymour Club Edinburgh 1911 to 1928 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: GUEST,GEST Date: 03 Dec 15 - 03:55 PM Here is a very obscure song worth adding to this thread. I just finished making the page mobile friendly so folks can view it on cell phones and tablets. I'd like to know if anyone has ever worked at the keeler in The Herring Store Song . |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: GEST Date: 07 Dec 15 - 09:23 AM The last post above is mine. ~DUH~ |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: maeve Date: 07 Dec 15 - 09:38 AM A passing note regarding the request from menderman: Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: GUEST,menderman - PM Date: 21 Apr 15 - 04:31 AM Cilla Fisher sings this one- a lovely one! Whaur Will We Gang (Andy Mitchell) Menderman found what he/she needed on another request thread on Mudcat, to which I've added the lyrics as sung by Cilla Fisher: Lyr Req: Whaur Will We Gang (Andrew Mitchell) Whaur Will We Gang - youtube- as sung by Cilla Fisher |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: EBarnacle Date: 11 May 20 - 05:26 PM The shad are funning. We have dined on shad roe, pickled the fleshy bits, etc. Several years ago, I mentioned a version similar to Tim Jacques' version, substituting shadfish for herring. To save people from digging through this thread, here's how I do it, with stage directions for audience participation: For shad festivals, a cumuulative call and response song. Eric Adapted from What'll we do with the herring's tail? What'll we do with the shadfish tail? Response: What'll we do with the shadfish tail? Leader: We'll make it into a sloop with sails. Cho: Shadfish tail--sloop with sails, And all manner of things. Leader: Of all the fish that swim in the sea, The shadfish is the one for me. Leader: How are ye today, how are ye today, me hinney-oh. And what'll we do with the shadfish eyes? What'll we do with the shadfish eyes? Bake into puddsings and pies. Shadfish eyes, puddings and pies, Shadfish tail, sloop with sails, and all manner of things. Shadfish fins, needles and pins etc, ending with: Shadfish guts--sailors' buts [boots], and all manner of things, Repeating the various parts until you are exhausted. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: GUEST,keberoxu Date: 11 May 20 - 07:19 PM This calls to mind, of all people, the worldly lyricist Cole Porter. Electric eels, I might add, do it, Though it shocks them, I know; Why ask if shad do it? Waiter! Bring me shad roe ... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Herring Song From: Lighter Date: 13 Jun 23 - 07:37 PM St. James's Gazette (1885), apparently referring to some "thirty years ago": "Out in the Black Sea, when the men worked long shifts to lighten the vessels at such places at Kertch Bar, the shanties were roared from early morning to sundown, and a merry fellow who could make up rude jingles all day long was worth half-a-dozen extra hands....An aged captain spoke recently of a renowned shantyman. He said, 'Eh me! that chep was just full o' poetry. He couldn't help hisself....Aw mind once we were busy haulin', and the cook fetched oot a cod and started cleanin' it. Sir! that man...made poetry aboot it for nigh upon five minutes; aboot its eyes, an' its tali, an' how like its face was to the cook's, an' how the skipper wouldn't spare no fresh fish for the forecastle. Amazin' it was!" Clearly based on the herring song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Herring Song From: Steve Gardham Date: 14 Jun 23 - 03:22 PM Nice extract, Jon. We collected 2 very different versions in the little village of Aldbrough on the Yorkshire coast, c1970. One was sung and accumulative with a spoken introduction dialogue between a fisherman and his son, and the other was all recited, non-accumulative, and started 'As I was a walking on Bolliton Sands, I picked up a herring as big as me hand, and what do you think etc. Both versions can be heard on the British Library Sound Archive website. |
Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: The Herring Song From: Georgiansilver Date: 14 Jun 23 - 05:45 PM Shoals of Herring by Ewan McColl |
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