AntPDC
When the Boat Comes In: "Dance to your Daddy" - Bob Fox "When The Boat Comes In" (or "Dance Ti Thy Daddy") is a traditional English folk song, originating in Northumbria, North East England. An early source for the lyrics, Joseph Robson's "Songs of the bards of the Tyne", published 1849, can be found on the FARNE archive. In FARNE's notes to the song, it is stated that these lyrics were written by William Watson around 1826.
FILM
Footage taken in the c. 1920-30s aboard the steel screw drifter M.S. "A Rose" (YH69). She was part of the herring fishing fleet of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England. (Courtesy of YouTuber xn15390).
LYRICS (as sung here)
Now come here me little Jackie
Now I've smoked me baccy [tobacco];
Let's have some cracky [conversation]
'Til the boat comes in.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
Now here's your mother humming,
Like a canny woman;
Yonder comes your father,
Drunk - he cannot stand.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a haddock
when the boat comes in.
Now Tommy's always fuddling [intoxicated],
He's so fond of ale,
He's very kind to me,
I hope he'll never fail.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a mackerel
when the boat comes in.
Now I like a drop myself,
When I can get it sly,
And you, my bonny bairn [child],
You'll like it well as I.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a bloater
when the boat comes in.
Now may we get a drop,
As oft as we stand in need;
And well may the keel row
That brings the bairns their bread.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
Now come here me little Jackie
Now I've smoked me baccy;
Let's have some cracky
'Til the boat comes in.
Now here's your mother humming,
Like a canny woman;
Yonder comes your father,
Drunk - he cannot stand.
Now Tommy's always fuddling,
He's so fond of ale,
He's very kind to me,
I hope he'll never fail.
Now I like a drop myself,
When I can get it sly,
And you, my bonny bairn,
You'll like it well as I.
Now may we get a drop,
As oft as we stand in need;
And well may the keel row [a traditional Tyneside folk song evoking the life and work of the keelmen (boat builders)]
That brings the bairns their bread.
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.
And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a salmon
when the boat comes in.
