Fishing Blues

About Fishing Blues

"Fishing Blues" is a blues song written in 1911 by Chris Smith, who is best known for "Ballin' the Jack". "Fishing Blues" was first recorded in 1928 by Henry Thomas "Ragtime Texas" on vocals and guitar with the introduction and breaks played on quills, a type of panpipe. Some later versions by other artists call it "Fishin' Blues". The song ostensibly describes the pleasures of catching, cooking, and eating your own fish, particularly catfish. The refrain runs: In 1930, the Carter Brothers (Armenter "Bo Carter" Chatmon, perhaps with his brothers Lonnie and Sam Chatmon) recorded an unreleased track for Okeh Records titled "Any Fish Will Bite if You Got Good Bait". This may have been the same song; suggesting that it may have been traditional rather than written by Thomas. Thomas' recording was included on the 1952 compilation album Anthology of American Folk Music, Volume Three: Songs (Blue Singing). In 1964, the song was revived by American folk musician Mike Seeger. Over the next five years, it was recorded by artists including The Holy Modal Rounders, Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, The Lovin' Spoonful (on their debut album Do You Believe in Magic), John Martyn and Taj Mahal. It has since been recorded many times. The recording history as of 2015 suggests that it has attained the status of a folk and blues standard. more »

Year:

2003

2:42

44 Views

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Went up on the hill about twelve o'clock
Reached right back and got me a pole
Went to the hardware and got me a hook
Attached that line right on that hook
Says you've been a-fishin' all the time
I'm a-goin' fishin' too

I bet your life, your lovin'wife
Can catch more fish than you
Any fish bite if you've got good bait
Here's a little somethin' I would like to relate
Any fish bite, you've got good bait.
I'm a-goin' a-fishin', yes, I'm a-goin' a-fishin'
I'm a-goin' a-fishin' too

Looked down the river about one o'clock
Spied this catfish swimmin' around
I've got so hungry, didn't know what to do
I'm gonna get me a catfish too

Yes, you've been fishin' all the time
I'm a-goin' a-fishin' too
I bet your life your lovin' wife
Catch more fish than you
Any fish bite, got good bait
Here's a little somethin' I would like to relate
Any fish bite, you've got good bait
I'm a-goin' a-fishin', yes, I'm goin' a-fishin'
I'm a-goin' a-fishin' too

Put on your skillet, don't never mind your lead
Mama gonna cook 'em with the short'nin' bread
Says you been fishin' all the time
I'm a-goin a-fishin' too
I bet your life, your lovin' wife
Can catch more fish than you
Any fish bite, if you've got good bait
Here's a little somethin' I would like to relate
Any fish bite, you've got good bait
I'm a-goin' a-fishin', yes, I'm goin' a-fishin'
I'm a-goin' a-fishin' too

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Henry Thomas

Henry Jackson Thomas Jr. (born September 9, 1971) is an American actor and musician. His breakout role is in Steven Spielberg's film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. more »

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