I noticed some of the lyrics that Seamus Kennedy posted are a bit different from Hobo Jim's:


FISHIN' FOR CHICKENS
As sung by Hobo Jim [Jim Varsos] on "Woodsmoke"

1. Well, Grandpa gave me a fishin' pole,
But we never had a fishin' hole.
Down on the farm that really didn't matter to us.
We'd sit out on the old front porch
With a rusty can full o' kernel corn
And bait 'er up and cast 'er out in the dust.

CHORUS: Fishin' for chickens, tryin' to catch a big 'un,
White ones, black ones, yellow ones, or red ones,
Don't matter just as long as I get one.
Mama finds out, gonna catch another lickin'.
Mama don't like nobody fishin' for chickens.

2. I remember the time that I got in
On a feedin' frenzy in a school o' hens,
And I was reelin' one in just when Mama came flyin' through the door.
Said, "Cut that loose, kid, before you kill it!"
I said, "He's swallered the hook, Mama. Grease up the skillet!"
I knew she was gonna wring my neck for sure. CHORUS

BRIDGE: Ever' mornin' in misty light
While my mama was sleepin' tight,
I'd be sittin' by Grandpa's side,
Wishin' for the chickens to bite.

3. I's sittin' on the front steps dreamin' a bit,
When I felt that leghorn rooster hit,
And Grandpa yelled out, "Boy, that's the biggest one I ever saw!
You land that one, son, sure enough,
We'll drive him to town and get him stuffed.
And when your mama ain't lookin' we'll hang that rooster on the wall." CHORUS