Fishing Blues

Last updated

"Fishing Blues"
HenryThomas-FishingBlues.jpg
Single by Henry Thomas
Released1928
RecordedChicago, June 13, 1928
Genre Texas blues
Length2:44
Label Vocalion
Songwriter(s) Chris Smith
Henry Thomas singles chronology
"Bull-Doze Blues" / "Old Country Stomp"
(1928)
"Fishing Blues" / "Texas Worried Blues"
(1928)
"Arkansas"
(1928)

"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]

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

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References

  1. Elijah Wald: Fishing (Blues) (Chris Smith/Sweetie May), June 10, 2017 Here Wald explains how Smith's original composition differed from the better known version that Thomas recorded
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