Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass

Subject: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 02:55 PM

Hi!

Memsahib has been asked to sing "Culler Coat Fisher Lass" by a north country exile but has no other information to offer!   The net hasn't produced anything but, as miracles take just a little longer, help! Has anyone out there information on where we can get the words and music (sheet or CDs).   Many thanks,

Jacqued

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: nutty
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 03:08 PM

Words and Music can be found on this site

Tyneside Songs By Catchside Warrington Volume 2 1929

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 03:35 PM

Many thanks, Nutty.   I was wrong, miracles don't take that long!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: nutty
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 03:52 PM

Thats the wonder of Mudcat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 04:27 PM

I couldn't get that site to open, nutty. It's here though, with an audio file:

Cullercoats Fish Lass

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 08:22 AM

Cullercoats by the way is just north of Whitley Bay. When I were a lad (just after the dinosaurs.) you could still buy fish and pints of prawns and cockles from the cottages along the top of the harbour.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 08:24 AM

Err the guest above is me!

are those cookie crumbs?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 04:12 PM

Cullercoats by the way is just SOUTH of Whitley Bay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Culler Coat Fisher Lass
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 01:35 PM

Lyrics copied from the Fish Tales page (Thanks, BigPinkLad, for the link), but I have made a few corrections based on my hearing of the sound file that can be played on that page. There are some names I am still doubtful about.

CULLERCOATS FISH LASS
As sung by Johnny Handle

I's a Cullercoats fishwife so cosy an' free,
Brought up in a cottage close on by the sea;
An' I sell fine fresh fish to poor an' to rich.
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?

SPOKEN: Fine codlin's, hinny, cheaper for hyem consumption than butcher meat. There's fine mackerel; come, mister, you shall have them at your own price. But the sea's up. I swear fish just now is as bad to catch as husbands and a great deal worse to sell. Do you want any fish or what?

Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?

Baith barefoot an' barelegg'd I trudge many a week,
With a creel on me back an' a bloom on me cheek.
I'll sell you flat fish, fine skate or fresh ling;
Pennywilks, crabs an' lobsters sometimes I will bring.
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?

I work hard for me livin', from a friend never begs,
And I huff the young laddies when they peep at me legs.
I's healthy an' handsome, quite willin' an' strong
To toil for me livin' cryin' "fish" all day long.
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?

SPOKEN: That's what I call fishin' for a livin'! But talkin' aboot fish, there's as queer fish on land as there is in the sea. Gladstone, Tom Sawyer an' Blondin (?). I call them "Star Fish" that baits the public to some tune. Folks that neglects to buy the Illustrated Tyneside Songs I consider them "Flat Fish". Mackay's men, they're "Dry Fish" - you can tell by their gills or maybe's by their jills. Noo sailors, well, they're "Sword Fish", that you should always keep a weather eye on land sharks. Volunteers, they're "Fresh Fish" when, with wor soldiers an' sailors, make up wor sole defenders. As for me, without your kind favours, I'd be like a fish out of water. I's a "Maiden Fish", oot of her teens just, in search of a husband to make meself comfortable. I want to take moorin's for life in the roads and channels of prosperity.

Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?
Will you buy, will you buy, will you buy me fresh fish?

Subject: Lyr Add: CULLERCOATS FISH-LASS (Ned Corvan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Jan 06 - 09:28 AM

The text I posted above is apparently derived from the following one. My main reason for posting this version is the fuller rendering of the dialect, but there are also some differences in the wording.

Transcribed from "Tyneside Songs, Volume II," by Catchside Warrington, 1929, images of which can be seen here: Page 1 and Page 2. (Thanks to Nutty for the link.)

CULLERCOATS FISH-LASS
Words, Ned Corvan. Tune, "Lilla's a Lady."

Aa's a Cullercoats fish-lass se cozy an' free,
Browt up in a cottage close on by the sea;
An' Aa sell fine fresh fish te poor an' te rich.
Will ye buy, will ye buy, will ye buy ma fresh fish?

CHORUS: Will ye buy, will ye buy, will ye buy ma fresh fish?

Byeth barefoot an' barelegged Aa trudge mony a week,
Wi' a creel on me back an' a bloom on me cheek.
Aa'll supply ye wi flat fish, fine skyet or fresh ling;
An' sometimes pennywilks, crabs an' lobsters Aa bring.

SPOKEN. Fine codlins, hinny. Cheaper for hyem consumption than butcher meat. There's fine mackerel. Howay, mister, ye shall hev them at yor aan price—but the sea's up! Aa's sure fish just noo is as bad te catch as husbands, an' a greet deal warse te sell.

SINGS. Will ye buy— Will ye buy— Will ye buy ma fresh fish?
IMITATES CRIES. Will ye buy ony fish?

I work hard for me livin', frev a freend Aa ne'er begs,
An' Aa huff the young cheps when they peep at me legs.
Aa's hilthy an' handsum, quite willin' an' strang
Te toil for me livin' cryin' "fish" aall day lang.

SPOKEN. That's what Aa caall fishin' for a livin'. But taakin' aboot fish — thor's queer fish on the land as weel as in the sea. Gladstone—Tom Sayers, an' Blondin—Aa caall them "star-fish" that baits the publick te some teun. Foaks that neglects te buy the Tyneside Songs, Aa considers them "flat-fish". Mackey's men, thor "dry-fish": ye can tell them by thor "gills." Sailors, thor "salt-fish", and shud keep thor weather eye on "land sharks." Volunteers—thor "fresh-fish" and wi' wor sowljors an' sailors, myek up wor "sole" defenders. As for me, wivoot yor kind favours, Aa'd be like a fish oot o' wettor; Aye-wey! Aa's a maiden fish, oot iv hor teens, in sairch ov a husband te myek us comfortable. Aa want te tyek moorin's for life in the roads an' channels o' matrimony.

SINGS. Will ye buy, will ye buy, &c.

Subject: Chord Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 19 Jan 06 - 07:00 AM

Just got Judy Dinnings CD "Fine Times" and it is grand.   It contains the song "Cullercoats Fish Lass" and I wonder if anyone out there has the chords for this song?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST,steve
Date: 14 Jan 13 - 03:49 PM

Ned Corvan, the writer and original performer, used to perform it in drag :)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 20 - 11:05 AM

Miriam Nicholson is a composer and I have been going through my compositions which I have written over the years. I found one verse of this song written with a piano accompaniment and I was looking for the other verses which are written in a modern language.
However I can't find them. I can translate them myself but wonder what the restrictions happen to be. I am sure all the verses have been brought up to date but I can't find them. If you can help me I will appreciate it very much.
I used to be Head of Music in the schools I taught.
But I have been retired for some years now. I still in normal circumstances teach piano at home and play for services in some churches.
If you can help me please get in touch.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 20 - 08:56 AM

Can't think there are any restrictions on this song- Ned Corvan died in 1865 - his words are not that inaccessible to 'English' speakers-
n Nutty's reference in 2006 above, is as good as any...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST,jamiebrownfolk
Date: 23 Jan 21 - 07:06 AM

BORIS'S POLLOCKS: The Cullercoats Fish Lass 2021 (Post-Brexit)
Jamie Brown
--------

A topical 2021 slant on a traditional North-East folk tune: The Cullercoats Fish Lass by Ned Corvan.

BORIS'S POLLOCKS: The Cullercoats Fish Lass 2021 (Post-Brexit)

The current plight of the UK fishing industry. Some may disagree with the stance of the fishermen on certain subjects, but we are united by at least one thing: false promises.

Desperate times.

And yes, pollocks are fish...I hear Boris is a fan. ??

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Cullercoats Fish Lass
From: GUEST,#
Date: 25 Jan 21 - 10:17 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cullercoats_Fish_Lass

Wikipedia article about the song.