Caller Herrin'

[Kenn]

Wha'll buy caller herrin' ?
They're bonnie fish and halesome faring',
Wha'll buy caller herrin'.
New drae frae the Forth?

When ye were sleepin' on your pillows,
Dreamed ye aught o' puir fellows,
Darkling as they faced the billows,
A' to fill the woven willows.

Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
Oh , ye may ca' them vulgar farin'
Wives and mithers, maist despaing,
Ca' them lives o' men.....

When the creel o' herrin' passes,
Ladies, clad in silks and laces,
Gather in their braw pelisses,
Cast their heads and screw their faces,

Caller heriin's no to lightlie,
Ye can trip the spring fu' tightlie,
Spite o' tauntin', flauntin' flingin'.
Gow has set you a' singing.

Neighbours wives, now tent my tellin',
When the bonny fish ye're sellin',
At a word aye be your dealin',
Truth will stand when a' thing 's failin'.

Wha'll buy caller herrin',
They're bonny fish and
New drawn frae the Forth.


Carolina Nairne

[trinkie]

Liz, That beautiful song is on my music stand right now !
I love it, and the tune by Nathaniel Gow, is so right for the words.

It was often sung at concerts in Wick. Do you sing it ?

Many thanks
Trinkie

[Kenn]

I found it in a book of poems and thought it was very apt, did n't realise it had been set to music, would love to hear it sung, not being from the far north it was not one that I learnt as a child.

[trinkie]

We sang this lovely song in school, and I'm sure everyone in Scotland knew of it. I think it was included in the National Song Book for Schools.
In recent years it was beautifully sung by Jean Redpath, there might be a You Tube if you search.
There is also quite a bit on Lady Nairne - if you care to Google.

Or if you'd rather, pop over for a cuppa and I will sing it for you !!

Trinkie

[Kenn]

You're welcome any time but it's a long trek for a cuppa and a singsong!