The Herring

(album: Drinkin' And Courtin' - 1968)

There was a poor thing that flowed in with the tide
It was forty feet long, boys, and forty feet wide
And we called it the herring that came it with the tide

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well, what do you think we made out of his head, but the grandest oul oven that ever baked bread
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his eyes, but lovely big pair of blue butterflies
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his back, but lovely big sailor and we called him Jack
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his belly, but lovely looking girl and we christened her Nellie
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellies

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well, what do you think we made out of his fins, but a grand big box of needles and pins
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well, what do you think we made out of his tail, but the grandest oul ship, boys, that ever set sail
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins
With the herrings and tails and ships setting sail

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well, come all your young girls that are trying to prude
The next two verses are awfully rude
So, if you don't like them you can be on your way

Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she