Fishing Blues
1928 single by Henry Thomas
"Fishing Blues" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Henry Thomas | ||||
Released | 1928 | |||
Recorded | Chicago, June 13, 1928 | |||
Genre | Texas blues | |||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | Vocalion | |||
Songwriter(s) | Chris Smith | |||
Henry Thomas singles chronology | ||||
|
"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
- 1928 – Henry Thomas, 10-inch 78 rpm single Vocalion 1249[3][4]
- 1930s{?)[citation needed] – Sam Chatmon,[5] included on the 1979 album Sam Chatmon's Advice[6]
- 1964 – Mike Seeger,[7] on the album Mike Seeger[8]
- 1965 – The Holy Modal Rounders,[9][10][11] on the album The Holy Modal Rounders 2
- 1965 – The Lovin' Spoonful,[12] on the album Do You Believe in Magic
- 1966 – Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band,[13] on the album See Reverse Side for Title
- 1968 – John Martyn,[14] on the album The Tumbler
- 1969 – Taj Mahal,[15][16][17][18] on the album Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home
- 1975 – Lillebjørn Nilsen,[19] on the album Byen med det store hjertet
- 1977 – Richard Bargel,[20] on the album Blue Steel[21]
- 1984 – John Sebastian,[22] on the 2001 album One Guy, One Guitar [23]
- 1990 – Nappy Brown,[24] on the album Apples and Lemons[25]
- 2000 – Paramount Trio,[26] on the album At the Crossroads of Collingwood and Fitzr[27]
- 2001 – Felonius Blues Revue,[28] on the album Sketches in Blue[29]
- 2001 – David Thomas,[30] on the album The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited[31]
- 2001 – Claire Tomlinson,[32] on the album Black, White and Blues, Vol. 1[33]
- 2002 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,[34] on the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III
- 2002 – Teja and Luke,[35] on the album Better Day[36]
- 2003 – Disney,[37] on the soundtrack album Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites[38]
- 2003 – Doofus,[39] on the album Handful of Songs[40]
- 2003 – Jean-Jacques Milteau,[41] on the album Blue 3rd
- 2003 – Artie Traum, Chris Shaw and Tom Akstens,[42] on the album Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing [43]
- 2003 – David Thompson and Ben Winship,[44][45] on the album Fishing Music[46]
- 2004 – The Juggernauts,[47] on the album As We Like It [48]
- 2006 – Blues Etc.,[49] on the album Blues Etc. [50]
- 2006 – Ben Bonham,[51] on the album Kids Only [52]
- 2006 – The Gutbucket Jug Band,[53] on the album Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue [54]
- 2006 – Gareth Hedges and Lance Bennett,[55] on the album Candy Man [56]
- 2006 – Hell's Kitchen,[57] on the album City Streets [58]
- 2006 – Peter "Madcat" Ruth,[59] on the album Live in Rio [60]
- 2006 – Someday Baby,[61] on the album Backbone Move [62]
- 2007 – Bill and Kristin Morris,[63] on the album Not Your Regular Cup of Tea[64]
- 2008 – Steve Baker and Dick Bird,[65] on the album King Kazoo [66]
- 2008 – Electric Apricot,[67] on the soundtrack album of the movie Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo [68]
- 2009 – Graham Hine,[69] on the album You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon [70]
- 2015 – Spuyten Duyvil,[71] on the album The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1 [72]
References
- ^ 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
- ^ "Fishing Blues". Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ^ Henry Thomas – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Sam Chatmon – Fishing Blues, Composed by Sam Chatmon at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Owens, Thom. Sam Chatmon – Sam Chatmon's Advice at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Mike Seeger – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. Mike Seeger – Mike Seeger at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ The Lovin' Spoonful – at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Jim Kweskin – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ John Martyn – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ Taj Mahal – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Taj Mahal – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Taj Mahal / The Pointer Sisters – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Lillebjørn Nilsen – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Richard Bargel – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Richard Bargel – Blue Steel at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ John Sebastian – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. John Sebastian – One Guy, One Guitar at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Nappy Brown – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. Nappy Brown – Apples & Lemons at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Paramount Trio–Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Various Artists – At the Crossroads of Collingwood & Fitzr at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Felonius Blues Revue – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Felonius Blues Revue – Sketches in Blue at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ David Thomas – Fishing Blues (Live), Composed by David Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Tamarkin, Jeff. Various ArtistsThe Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Claire Tomlinson – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Claire Tomlinson – Black, White & Blues, Vol. 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Teja & Luke – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Teja & Luke – Better Day at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Disney – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Phares, Heather. Disney – Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ Doofus – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Doofus – Handful of Songs at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Howard Johnson / Jean-Jacques Milteau – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Big Trout Radio / Traum Shaw & Akstens – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Traum Shaw & Akstens – Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishing Music at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ The Juggernauts – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ The Juggernauts – As We Like It at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Blues etc / Blues Etc – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Blues etc – Blues etc at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Ben Bonham – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Ben Bonham – Kids Only at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ The Gutbucket Jug Band – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ The Gutbucket Jug Band – Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Gareth Hedges – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Gareth Hedges – Candyman at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Hell's Kitchen – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Hell's Kitchen – City Streets at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Peter "Madcat" Ruth – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Peter "Madcat" Ruth – Live in Rio at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Someday Baby – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Someday Baby – Backbone Move at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Bill & Kristin Morris – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Bill & Kristin Morris – Not Your Regular Cup of Tea at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Steve Baker – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Steve Baker – King Kazoo at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Electric Apricot / Henry Thomas / Henry Thomas – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. Original Soundtrack – Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Graham Hine – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Graham Hine – You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- ^ Spuyten Duyvil – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ 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.