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TWO JOLLY FISHERMEN Lead: Peter and Richard

More commonly known as Three Jolly Fishermen – a popular favorite from Whitby in Yorkshire, England. The "merry, merry bells" mentioned are the Bells of St. Mary's church up on the cliff top. In the chorus we sing "come buy a broil of herring" in place of "for me fine fry of herring" – this comes from the broadside Caller Herring printed c1840 by W. & T. Fordyce, Dean Street, Newcastle. The "come buy my silver herring" verse comes from the broadside sheet and Richard composed the last two verses.

Roy Palmer, in his book Boxing the Compass (re-printing of The Oxford Book of Sea Songs with a new title) says "Steve Gardham recorded this [Three Jolly Fishermen] from Thomas Calvert of Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire, in 1971. The song, which seems to have been a particular favourite in the Whitby area (though Cecil Sharp had a version from Middlesex, attached to a dance), was issued on a broadside printed in 1837-8 by W. and T. Fordyce, Newcastle, under the title of 'Caller Herring.' This in turn loosely derives from a song of the same name by Lady Carolina Nairne (1766-1845), published in 1824 to a tune by Nathaniel Gow (1777-1831), based on 'the original Cry of the Newhaven fish wives, selling their fresh herrings in the streets of Edinburgh.' Gow's tune was issued as a shilling music sheet for piano in c. 1802."

LYRICS:

We are two jolly fishermen (first singer)
We are two jolly fishermen (second singer)
We are two jolly fishermen (both singers)
While the merry, merry bells do ring (both singers)

Chorus:
Make haste, make haste (first singer)
You'll be too late (second singer)
What fish, my dear? (first singer)
I cannot wait (second singer)
Come buy a broil of herring (both singers)
Me bonny silver herring (both singers)
Mind how I sell them (both singers)
While the merry, merry bells do ring (both singers)

We sell them three for four pence
We sell them three for four pence
We sell them three for four pence
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus

We cast our nets into the sea
We cast our nets into the sea
We cast our nets into the sea
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus

Come buy my silver herring
Come buy my silver herring
Come buy my silver herring
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus

With white and speckled bellies
With white and speckled bellies
With white and speckled bellies
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus

Fresh fish I have to sell to you
Fresh fish I have to sell to you
Fresh fish I have to sell to you
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus

Fine fish to fill your bellies
Fine fish to fill your bellies
Fine fish to fill your bellies
While the merry, merry bells do ring

Chorus