FISHERMAN'S FRIEND                Lyrics Ron Baxter;
                                                       Tune Ross Campbell

On my three day's leave, I never had the time
To court or to wed any lady so fine;
But down there in "Deadun's", where I would wend,
I found there my Fisherman's Friend.
My Fisherman's Friend she'd be waiting for me
Each single time I came back home from sea;
Each trip she'd ask for, and each trip I'd lend
All my brass to my Fisherman's Friend. (2)

Well, she took all my pay but I didn't care;
I loved her tattoos and her bouffant hair.
Her Woolies' perfume it sent me round the bend -
O the smell of my Fisherman's Friend!
My Fisherman's Friend she'd be waiting for me
Each single time I came home from sea;
A "Telemac" message to her I'd send
To my lovely Fisherman's Friend. (2)

But one day I landed to find she was gone;
I went down to "Deadun's" to see what was wrong.
They told me the tale and I knew 'twas the end
For me and my Fisherman's Friend.
For my Fisherman's Friend wasn't waiting for me
That dreadful day I came back home from sea;
No longer together our kisses we'd blend -
Me and my Fisherman's Friend. (2)
        
She'd fell down in Lord Street, maudled with gin -
There the trams ran across her - agin and agin!
The ambulance came, but they couldn't mend
The bits of my Fisherman's Friend.
But my Fisherman's Friend will be waiting for me
On that Heavenly Quayside when I dock finally;
We'll be together in that Heavenly "Deadun's" -
Me - and my Fisherman's Friend! (2)

Ron created this as a monologue for one of our "Fleetwood and Fishing" shows a few years back. I couldn't resist putting a tune to it - we now take turn about to present the alternate versions. "Deadun's" is the nickname of the Royal Oak, a long-time haunt of fishermen on Lord Street, Fleetwood, just yards away from our local Woolworths.

Ross