Lyr Req/Add: The Whiz Fish Song

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,GUEST,vaudeville folk
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 09:50 AM

WOW! Just chanced a re visit to my inquiry today and discovered this!!!   Thank you all for your contribution to my search!!! And your success!! Will strum chords until the melody becomes obvious... but if it shows up on this sight as MIDI would be a real treat and victory! Thanks Again!

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: WHIZ FISH SONG
From: GUEST,Whizfish tune.
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 11:25 PM

I could probably do a Midi, if I had a midi composer, but since I don't, I've put this together:

WHIZ FISH SONG

c       a    g a    a a# c g   g    g    f   g   f    d e
On the swaying limb of a rubber tree, ten thousand miles away,
f e   d      d e f d c f    f g   g a f g
On the banks of the Hoola river, in far off Uruguay,
c      a   g   a a# c g    g   f   g    f    d   a
There sits a nervous monkey, his eyes with fear agleam,
a# a    f g a A# a   f   g a a# f   c   c   f
His tail a-dangling gently, within the limpid stream.

c    a g a a#    c g    g f    g f       d   e
Just every nineteen minutes, he jerks it through the air,
f    e d    e f e d c   f    f g g    a f    g
With a south a-merican whizfish, aflopping helpless there.
c   c   a      a g a a# c g    g f    f g f d a
Now the teeth of a hungry whizfish are hard on a tender tail,
A# a f g a a#    a f    g a a# a    f   c c    f
And as he sits there fishing, you can hear that monkey wail----

C    a      g a a# c g    g   f    g f d   e
"Oh, Shades of Izaak Walton! Was that another bite?
f e d   e f    d c f    f   g    g    a   f g
If I didn't feel so hungry, I'd quit this job tonight.
c   c a   g   a   a#   c   g    g    g   f    a    g f a
But I love the roasted whizfish, tho' his bite drives me insane.
a#      a# a f g    a# a    f    g    a#    a# a    f c    g   f
And ....I do so wish. To catch that fish. That...I manage to stand the pain."

Now there chanced to paddle along that way, with a jaw six feet by nine,
A south american jumbofish, who took hold of the monkey's line.
He started down the river, quite unconcernedly,
While the monkey screamed, and chattered, and clung to the rubber tree.

The tree stretched like a garter, a dozen miles or so.
When the fish let go, that monkey flew ---- like an arrow from a bow.
They say he still is flying. And if you care to try,
You can hear him softly murmur, as he whistles through the sky,

"Oh shades of Isaak Walton.. (reprise of chorus.)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Whiz Fish Song
From:
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 01:32 PM

Amazing! I had looked for this song about two months ago, and couldn't find it, I wanted to send it with my son to camp, since that's where I learned it. Did a search today, and there it is!
(scrambles to add it to archives!). I can see if I can put together the tune that I leaned it to, and see if I can post...

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,vaudeville folk
Date: 26 Jun 03 - 10:41 AM

to guest mpf... you referred to this as a lullaby... your family knew from at least 1929... would you happen to recall who wrote this ... or if it was ever common knowledge? thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune Req: The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,VAUDEVILLE FOLK
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:19 AM

I am the original inquiry for the lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song. I would be grateful for the tune as well, if there is any way to pass it on through this site. Time and events have passed since my original request, so I'm still trying to put together the reason, or inspiration to know this song in the first place. My gratitude to all who've provided lyrics, background and mutual interest!

Subject: RE: Want TUNE to The Whiz Fish Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 03:36 PM

I got an e-mail request for the tune to this song. Anybody know more about it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,mpfGuest
Date: 30 Mar 03 - 12:04 PM

Dear Sorcha, I am a complete novice, though willing to learn. How do I email you? And how would i write the music? I can probably find a friend who could write the melody from my singing...is that the first step? (I do not know what abc and MIDI refer to. Will my friend know?)

Thanks also for any further help anyone can give me about the other, Gaelic song which we always thought was about the "Cranberry Isles".

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 09:01 PM

Fly Fising is one of my passions and I immediately recognized the reference.

In 1652 The Compleat Angler, (not a spelling mistake) was written by Isaak Walton, then aged 60. It listed the twelve flies from the Treatyse. Through the conversation between the book's two characters, Mr Piscator and Mr Venator, we get a good view of how fishing with a rod and hook was done at the time. The tradition from Dame Juliana Bernet is clear: fishing was done for enjoyment.

http://freespace.virgin.net/fly.shop/history.htm

Sincerely,
Gargole

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 08:35 PM

Either abc or MIDI format. If you can't do either, can you scan/e mail to me, MMario, or Snuffy?

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,mpf
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 04:15 PM

I know the melody very well. It has been a lullaby in our family since 1929 if not earlier. I would love to know more about its origins though. Who is the Captain who was looking for it? (I just happened to stumble on his query looking for something else).

And how does one offer the tune? I have never been to this site before.

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: vectis
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 04:06 PM

Tune?? Please.

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 11:01 AM

What a strange little song! Thanks for posting it. I wonder whether it was accompanied with a cello run in the last verse.

Charley Noble

Subject: ADD: The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 03 - 10:47 AM

WHIZ FISH SONG

On the swaying limb of a rubber tree, ten thousand miles away,
On the banks of the Hoola river, in far off Uruguay,
There sits a nervous monkey, his eyes with fear agleam,
His tail adangling gently, within the limpid stream.

Just every nineteen minutes, he jerks it through the air,
With a south american whizfish, aflopping helpless there.
Now the teeth of a hungry whizfish are hard on a tender tail,
And as he sits there fishing, you can hear that monkey wail----

"Shades of Izaak Walton! Was that another bite?
If I didn't feel so hungry, I'd quit this job tonight.
But I love the roasted whizfish, tho' his bite drives me insane.
And ....I do so wish. To catch that fish. That...I manage to stand the pain."

Now there chanced to paddle along that way,with a jaw six feet by nine,
A south american jumbofish, who took hold of the monkey's line.
He started down the river, quite unconcernedly,
While the monkey screamed, and chattered, and clung to the rubber tree.

The tree stretched like a garter, a dozen miles or so.
When the fish let go, that monkey flew ---- like an arrow from a bow.
They say he still is flying. And if you care to try,
You can hear him softly murmur, as he whistles through the sky,

"Oh shades of Isaak Walton.. (reprise of chorus.)

---

E-mail sent to requestor.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: Sorcha
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 10:22 PM

If Captain doesn't, We/Mudcat do. Please post them, Guest mpf, and please use a Lyr Add: in the Subject box. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From: GUEST,mpf
Date: 28 Mar 03 - 08:34 PM

do you still want the lyrics to the whizfish song? I have them...

Subject: Want lyrics to The Whiz Fish Song
From:
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 12:31 PM

I am looking for the lyrics and music to a song called "The Whiz Fish Song", artist unknown, written around 1922. It's about a monkey sitting in a tree above a stream and fishing with his tail. It might also be called "The Monkey Song" or "The Complete Angler".

Subject: The wish fish song
From: Maryanna thompson
Date: 27 Sep 98 - 08:27 PM

I would like all the words to what we called the Wish Fish song. I believe It starts. On the swinging branch of a rubber three a thousand miles away, on the banks of the yurga river far down yugra way. There sits a nervous monkey in his eyes there is a gleam, and his tail it hangs down lightly, down in that limpid stream.