Lyr. Add: THE JACKFISH
Appalachian Dance Tune

That old Jackfish swimming up the stream,
I asked that Jackfish what did he mean.
Just baited a hook to catch a shad,
The first thing he bit was my old Dad.

Sing fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do I-do
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do-I.
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do I-do,
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do-I.

Fishpole broke and I got mad
And down to the bottom went old Dad.
I grabbed that Jackfish by the snout,
And turned that Jackfish wrong side out.

Sing fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do I-do
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do-I.
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do I-do,
Fal de rol de ee-do, ee-do-I.

Notes: From Kididdles. Related to the 'Hook and Line' family of tunes. The chain pickerel, Esox niger , also called a jackfish, black pike, green pickerel, green pike, and justjack by swampers, is an exciting fish that loves to jump, and more than one fisherman has been surprised by a slap in the face by a flying jackfish. A solitary fish, it prefers quiet waters with heavy vegetation, where it stalks its prey. The chain pickerel is a popular gamefish in the northeast and is caught by ice fishermen during the winter, but the world angling record for the chain pickerel was set in Georgia in 1961 at nine pounds, six ounces.

Does anyone know the source of these lyrics? Any other versions?

-Richie