Bruce Scott - The Herring

Bruce Scott singing The Herring from his album My Colleen by the Shore.

Herring Processions in Ireland were riotous cavalcades which took place in many towns and villages, usually on Easter Saturday at the end of Lent, celebrating the end of abstinence from meat and the dominance of the King of the Sea from the diet. Not surprisingly the processions were often led by butchers who had just come through a very frugal 40 days. The herrings were usually mounted on decorated poles followed by musicians and various revellers and led through the streets to an ignominious end such as being dumped back into the sea or in some cases a butcher's boy would pull a line of dozens of herrings through the streets and it was beaten by other boys until not a shred of herring remained on the rope. In spite of The Herring belonging to a popular genre such as The Cutty Wren, The Sow Took the Measles, The Derby Ram, and others, I do not think it too unlikely to conjecture that our song here had its origins in a Herring Procession.

Lyrics:
Ah there was an old man who came from Kinsail
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
And he had a herring a herring for sale
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Sing herring for sail sing man from Kinsail
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Indeed I have more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin

And what do you think we made of his fins
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
But a nice little package of needles and pins
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Sing herring and fins sing needles and pins
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Indeed I have more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin

And what do you think we made of his belly
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
But a nice little girl we called her Nellie
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Sing herring and belly sing girl sing Nellie
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Indeed I have more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin.

And what do you think we made out of his back
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
But a fine old sailor we called him Jack
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Sing herring sing back sing sailor Jack
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Well indeed Ihave more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin

And what do you think we made of his head
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
The finest griddle that ever baked bread
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Sing griddle sing head sing sailor sing bread
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Indeed I have more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin.

And what do you think we made of his eyes
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
But the finest balls that ever did rise
Sing ava um vane sing ava o lin
Sing herring sing eyes sing balls sing rise
Sing ava um vane sing ava um vane
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin

Now all of you people inclined to be prude
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
The next two verses are rather rude
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Sing herring sing prude sing verses sing rude
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Indeed I have more of my herring tosing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin

And what do you think we made of his hole
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
The finest bellows that ever blew coal
Sing ava um vane sing ava o'lin
Sing herring sing hole sing bellows sing coal
Sing ava um vane sing ava o,lin
Well indeed I have more of my herring to sing
Sing ava um vane sing ava o,lin

And what do you think we made of his bollocks
Sing ava um vane sing ava o,lin
But a radical cure for old alcoholics
Sing ava um vane sing ava o,lin
Sing herring sing bollocks sing old alcoholics
Sing ava um vane sing ava o,lin
Well indeed I,ve no more of my herring to sing

Song transcribed by Bruce & Dot Scott
Song notes: John Howson & Tom Munnelly

[afischer]

I played fiddle in his pub band for a few years, and also there was Tommy Wilson and Sonny Phillips, and other local musicians, especially Vlad Brown on accordion, who I still play music with. I went to Ireland a couple of times, with Bruce and Dot, to the Fleadh Ceol in Clonmel. Lots of music, and Guinness. Happy times. Let me know if you'd like some banter.

[helendolan]

I think you are the only person that can be my beautiful family but you are so very happy to be happy and you are feeling betterxxx like

[GraceMidyette]

Would love to put up more, but of course want to get the ok from Bruce and the Scott clan.

[lewisthedeman]

It can be on the best he is my grandad I was a job more than anything for another couple to pay the best he is the best he is the best you

[Melvorgazh]

How is his son doing?Does he still play the guitar?Any video of the X-Patt by any chance?Sláinte! ;)