Fishing Blues
1928 single by Henry Thomas
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"Fishing Blues" (also "Fishin' Blues") is a blues song written in 1911 by Chris Smith, who is best known for "Ballin' the Jack".[1] "Fishing Blues" was first recorded in 1928 by "Ragtime Texas" Henry Thomas on vocals and guitar with the introduction and breaks played on quills, a type of panpipe. It is Roud Folk Song Index No. 17692.[2]
| "Fishing Blues" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Henry Thomas | ||||
| Released | 1928 | |||
| Recorded | Chicago, June 13, 1928 | |||
| Genre | Texas blues | |||
| Length | 2:44 | |||
| Label | Vocalion | |||
| Songwriter | Chris Smith | |||
| Henry Thomas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song ostensibly describes the pleasures of catching, cooking, and eating your own fish, particularly catfish. The refrain includes:
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.
Recordings
- 1928 – Henry Thomas, 10-inch 78 rpm single Vocalion 1249[3]
- 1930s{?)[citation needed] – Sam Chatmon, included on the 1979 album Sam Chatmon's Advice[4]
- 1964 – Mike Seeger, on the album Mike Seeger[5]
- 1965 – The Holy Modal Rounders,[6] on the album The Holy Modal Rounders 2
- 1965 – The Lovin' Spoonful,[7] on the album Do You Believe in Magic
- 1966 – Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band,[8] on the album See Reverse Side for Title
- 1968 – John Martyn,[9] on the album The Tumbler
- 1969 – Taj Mahal,[10] on the album Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home
- 1975 – Lillebjørn Nilsen,[11] on the album Byen med det store hjertet
- 1977 – Richard Bargel, on the album Blue Steel[12]
- 1984 – John Sebastian, on the 2001 album One Guy, One Guitar [13]
- 1990 – Nappy Brown, on the album Apples and Lemons[14]
- 2000 – Paramount Trio, on the album At the Crossroads of Collingwood and Fitzr[15]
- 2001 – Felonius Blues Revue, on the album Sketches in Blue[16]
- 2001 – David Thomas, on the album The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited[17]
- 2001 – Claire Tomlinson, on the album Black, White and Blues, Vol. 1[18]
- 2002 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,[19] on the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III
- 2002 – Teja and Luke, on the album Better Day[20]
- 2003 – Disney, on the soundtrack album Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites[21]
- 2003 – Doofus, on the album Handful of Songs[22]
- 2003 – Jean-Jacques Milteau,[23] on the album Blue 3rd
- 2003 – Artie Traum, Chris Shaw and Tom Akstens, on the album Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing [24]
- 2003 – David Thompson and Ben Winship, on the album Fishing Music[25]
- 2004 – The Juggernauts, on the album As We Like It [26]
- 2006 – Blues Etc., on the album Blues Etc. [27]
- 2006 – Ben Bonham, on the album Kids Only [28]
- 2006 – The Gutbucket Jug Band, on the album Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue [29]
- 2006 – Gareth Hedges and Lance Bennett, on the album Candy Man [30]
- 2006 – Hell's Kitchen, on the album City Streets [31]
- 2006 – Peter "Madcat" Ruth, on the album Live in Rio [32]
- 2006 – Someday Baby, on the album Backbone Move [33]
- 2007 – Bill and Kristin Morris, on the album Not Your Regular Cup of Tea[34]
- 2008 – Steve Baker and Dick Bird, on the album King Kazoo [35]
- 2008 – Electric Apricot, on the soundtrack album of the movie Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo [36]
- 2009 – Graham Hine, on the album You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon [37]
- 2015 – Spuyten Duyvil, on the album The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1[38]
