Here's the rest of the song I quoted earlier, from The Book of Newfoundland:


THREE DEVILS FOR FISH

O my lamp did go out, for my clothes on the hunt,
Away I did saddle to look for my punt,
And every straddle I made it so fair,
Saying, "This is the summer we'll all get our share."

O we left the stage-head and we steered her out straight,
A slashing fine breeze and a tub of fresh bait,
A slashing fine mainsail and a bully fine jib,
A crooked nose punt, and she sails like a squid.

She steers like a rigger, she mounts the big lop,
But hark, Skipper Harry, I hear a fish chop;
It was off to the Sunker we come to so fair;
'Twas over our lines, boys, and there's ne'er a one here.

O crawl into the cuddy, crawl in, my old cock,
Haul out me oil trousers, likewise me oil frock;
O lie down, Skipper Harry; get up, Skipper Tom.
You don't know the moment they may sheer along.

Skipper Harry laid down on the broad of his back,
Half asleep and half awakened he heard his line crack.
Up jumps Skipper Harry to pull in the slack,
Saying, "When he breaks water I'll be on his back."

The fish it broke water with a wonderful dash,
And out of his mouth the hook it did smash.
Skipper Tommy looked forward with a wonderful frown,
Saying, "How hard he came up but how light he's gone down!

"I'll go up for'ard and have a look around.
I think there's some small fish on the shoal-ground."
We hauled up the grapnel, the wind about sou',
We crossed on our oars, saying, "How fast she goes now!"

In the sweet month of August, the liver being plum,
We had a big puncheon chock full to the bung.
O woman, O woman, you may have your wish,
For say what you will, we're three devils for fish.