The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #60681   Message #972616
Posted By: *#1 PEASANT*
26-Jun-03 - 08:14 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: thou shall have a little fishy
Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN/DANCE TO THY DADDY
This song is of the early period or roots period of the tradition. Still a period of stylization but a bit closer to the period before publication....whatever that means....

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN / DANCE TO THY DADDY

Come here me little Jacky,
now ah've smoked me baccy,
let's hev a bit of cracky,
till the boat comes in.
Dance to thee Daddy, sing to thee Mammy,
dance to thee Daddy, to thee Mammy sing;

Thou shalt hev a fishy on a little dishy,
thou shalt hev a fishy when the boat comes in.

Here's thy mother humming,
like a canny woman;
Yonder comes thy fatha,
drunk - he cannat stand.

Dance to thee Daddy, sing to thee Mammy,
dance to thee Daddy, to thee Mammy sing;
Thou shalt hev a fishy on a little dishy,
thou shalt hev a haddock when the boat comes in

Our Tommy's always fuddling,
he's so fond of ale,
but he's kind to me,
I hope he'll never fail.

Dance to thee Daddy, sing to thee Mammy,
dance to thee Daddy, to thee Mammy sing;
Thou shalt hev a fishy on a little dishy,
thou shalt hev a Bloater when the boat comes in

I like a drop mesel',
when I can get it sly,
and thou, my bonny bairn,
will like't as well as I.

Dance to thee Daddy, sing to thee Mammy,
dance to thee Daddy, to thee Mammy sing;
Thou shalt hev a fishy on a little dishy,
thou shalt hev a Mackerel when the boat comes in.

May we get a drop,
oft as we stand in need;
and weel may the keel row
that brings the bairns tha breed.

Dance to thee Daddy, sing to thee Mammy,
dance to thee Daddy, to thee Mammy sing;
Thou shalt hev a fishy on a little dishy,
thou shalt hev a Salmon when the boat comes in.

-In Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings....,
Thomas and George Allan, NewcastleUpon Tyne, 1891. Author lsited
as Watson and source: Fordyce's "Newcastle song Book," 1842"