Now, the version in Peter Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain & Ireland (1975), song #219, is quite different - and it has a chorus. Kennedy's source is Phil Hamond, Morston, Holt, Norfolk. Kennedy recorded him in 1952.

THE CANDLELIGHT FISHERMAN

O me dad was a fisherman bold
And he lived till he grew old
For he opens the pane and he pops out the flame.
Just to see how the wind do blow.
    If the flame don't flicker he'd know
    That there's not enough wind do blow
    But if that silly old flame blow out
    Then there's too much wind to go.

And often he'd say to me.
You'd be wise before you go
Do you open the pane and pop out the flame.
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the north wind rough did blow
Then I lay right snug below
But I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the wind come out of the east,
You'll be looking for snow and sleet,
But I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the wind back into the west.
That'll come a rough in at best,
But I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the south wind soft do blow,
It's then I love to go
And I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

And my poor wife say to me,
We shall starve if you don't go,
So I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

Now all you fishermen bold,
If you live till you grow old,
Do you open the pane and pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.


Kennedy's notes:

This is the story of the self-employed sea fisherman who can suit himself. As Phil Hamond explained: "He got to turn out of bed in the mornin' - he light the candle - he put it out the window. If the flame blow out there's too much wind for him to go; and if it don't blow out, there ain't wind enough, so go go back to bed again."
This same story is also told of fishermen at Mevagissey in Cornwall.

This is almost the same as the version in the Digital Tradition, but the DT has no chorus. There are other slight differences.

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