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
  2. ↑ "Fishing Blues". Vaughan Williams Memorial Library . Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  3. ↑ Henry Thomas –Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  4. ↑ Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ Sam Chatmon –Fishing Blues, Composed by Sam Chatmon at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  6. ↑ Owens, Thom. Sam Chatmon –Sam Chatmon's Advice at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  7. ↑ Mike Seeger –Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  8. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. Mike Seeger –Mike Seeger at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ The Holy Modal Rounders –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ The Holy Modal Rounders –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ The Holy Modal Rounders –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  12. ↑ The Lovin' Spoonful – at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  13. ↑ Jim Kweskin –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ John Martyn –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ Taj Mahal –Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  17. ↑ Taj Mahal –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ Taj Mahal / The Pointer Sisters –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  19. ↑ Lillebjørn Nilsen –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ Richard Bargel –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ Richard Bargel –Blue Steel at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ John Sebastian –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  23. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. John Sebastian –One Guy, One Guitar at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  24. ↑ Nappy Brown –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  25. ↑ Wynn, Ron. Nappy Brown –Apples & Lemons at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  26. ↑ Paramount Trio–Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  27. ↑ Various Artists –At the Crossroads of Collingwood & Fitzr at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  28. ↑ Felonius Blues Revue –Fishin' Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  29. ↑ Felonius Blues Revue –Sketches in Blue at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ David Thomas –Fishing Blues (Live), Composed by David Thomas at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  31. ↑ Tamarkin, Jeff. Various ArtistsThe Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  32. ↑ Claire Tomlinson –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  33. ↑ Claire Tomlinson –Black, White & Blues, Vol. 1 at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  34. ↑ The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  35. ↑ Teja & Luke –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  36. ↑ Teja & Luke –Better Day at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  37. ↑ Disney –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  38. ↑ Phares, Heather. Disney –Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites at AllMusic . Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  39. ↑ Doofus –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  40. ↑ Doofus –Handful of Songs at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  41. ↑ Howard Johnson / Jean-Jacques Milteau –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  42. ↑ Big Trout Radio / Traum Shaw & Akstens –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  43. ↑ Traum Shaw & Akstens –Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  44. ↑ David Thompson / Ben Winship –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  45. ↑ David Thompson / Ben Winship –Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic . Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  46. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. David Thompson / Ben Winship –Fishing Music at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  47. ↑ The Juggernauts –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  48. ↑ The Juggernauts –As We Like It at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  49. ↑ Blues etc / Blues Etc –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  50. ↑ Blues etc –Blues etc at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  51. ↑ Ben Bonham –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  52. ↑ Ben Bonham –Kids Only at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  53. ↑ The Gutbucket Jug Band –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  54. ↑ The Gutbucket Jug Band –Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  55. ↑ Gareth Hedges –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  56. ↑ Gareth Hedges –Candyman at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  57. ↑ Hell's Kitchen –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  58. ↑ Hell's Kitchen –City Streets at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  59. ↑ Peter "Madcat" Ruth –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  60. ↑ Peter "Madcat" Ruth –Live in Rio at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  61. ↑ Someday Baby –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  62. ↑ Someday Baby –Backbone Move at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  63. ↑ Bill & Kristin Morris –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  64. ↑ Bill & Kristin Morris –Not Your Regular Cup of Tea at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  65. ↑ Steve Baker –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  66. ↑ Steve Baker –King Kazoo at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  67. ↑ Electric Apricot / Henry Thomas / Henry Thomas –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  68. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Original Soundtrack –Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  69. ↑ Graham Hine –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  70. ↑ Graham Hine –You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon at AllMusic . Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  71. ↑ Spuyten Duyvil –Fishing Blues at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  72. ↑ Spuyten Duyvil The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1: Essential Traditional Music Arranged For Today's Listener By Spuyten Duyvil at AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
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