163 - The Fishes B - Capstan Shanty


This is a great shanty, sang usually at the capstan and at the pumps "The Fishes". This particular version, popular in the south of England, Stan Hugill had from had it from Devonshire seamen. In the book, Stan Hugill gives us only two first stanzas, due to the other ones being taken from the "Blow The Man Down" shanty, so I took another 3 verses from the mentioned shanty, to make this reconstruction a sensible length, and a bit more entertaining.
I would also like to thank Artur Pietrzykowski for the wonderful illustration that you can find at the beginning of the record.
"Shanties from the Seven Seas" by Stan Hugill (1st ed p 198).


The Fishes B


I'll sing you a song of the fish of the sea,
An' I'll trust that ye'll join in this chorus with me.

   - Wi'a wind-y old weather! Stormy old waether!
   - When the wind blows, we'll all heave together!

                                  *2*
O, the first came the herring, the king of the sea,
He jumped on the poop, "I'll be captain," said he.

                                  *3*
The next was a flat-fish, they call him the skate,
"If you be the captain, why sure, I'm the mate."

                                  *4*
The next came the hake, as black as a rook,
Says he, "I'm no sailor, I'll ship as the cook."

                                  *5*
The next came t he shark, with his two rows of teeth,
"Cook, mind the cabbage and I'll mind the beef."