When The Boat Comes In - Alex Glasgow

Dance Ti' Thy Daddy Come here, maw little Jacky, Now aw've smok'd mi backy, Let's hev a bit o' cracky, Till the boat comes in.

Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a fishy when the boat comes in. Here's thy mother humming, Like a canny woman; Yonder comes thy father, Drunk---he cannot stand.

Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a haddock when the boat comes in. Our Tommy's always fuddling, He's so fond of ale, But he's kind to me, I hope he'll never fail.

Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
I'hou shall hev a bloater when the boat comes in. I like a drop mysel', When I can get it sly, And thou, my bonny bairn, Will lik't as well as I.

Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a mackerel when the boat comes in. May we get a drop, Oft as we stand in need; And weel may the keel row That brings the bairns their bread.

Dance ti' thy daddy, sing ti' thy mammy,
Dance ti' thy daddy, ti' thy mammy sing;
Thou shall hev a fishy on a little dishy,
Thou shall hev a salmon when the boat comes in.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• geordie
• boat
• fishing
• alex
• glasgow
• canni

[BobTheMunificent]

No one I know in the south looks down on the NE - anyone suggesting that is just betraying their *own* prejudices and insecurities. Born and raised in London and love the NE (and everywhere else in Britain for that matter!). Long may the different parts of Britain maintain their different accents, local customs and dialects - and yes, in the case of Wales and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland their own languages.

[AnAutumnsDay]

Doing the same thing , going around trying to sing the words in my attempt at the North East accent. Family giving me some strange looks. Hahaaha.

[BradBrassman]

The song has been very well researched and interpreted and R. R. Terry in his collection, Salt Sea Ballads, finds the verses 'all very silly and witless, and a libel on the Northumbrian fisher folk'. We prefer to see it rather more in terms of 'a bit o' cracky' - just a bit of fun! Seasons greetings also.

[BradBrassman]

@hungrytigertony1 One of the best-loved of all Northumbrian folk songs, 'When the Boat Comes In' is perhaps as well known under its alternative title 'Dance to your Daddy'. The subject – is the fisherman/father's return from the sea - is heavily laced with references to alcohol... so heavily in fact that one gets the impression that the whole family is incapable!

[hungrytigertony1]

@BradBrassman Sorry, but I beg to differ, have a great holiday.

[ApatheticLeader]

I...um.......

I'm sorry, what?!

[BradBrassman]

@BritGuyInUs1.... is it eck. listen te'the song properly. "Cracky" is a bit of a crack, i.e a bit o'fun, now that he's finished his pipe.

[babyboosabz]

@BritGuyInUs1 lol thank you :) but my comment said 'what is it about british accents that make them so amazing?' but thanks for your comment anyway, i didn't actually know thats what the song was about

[BritGuyInUs1]

@babyboosabz @babyboosabz Its about a once severely poverty stricken area in the North East of England (probably in the 1930's) in a county called Northumberland which borders Scotland. The song refers to a man singing to his starving son to encourage him. First he scolds him for trying to smoke his tobacco (baccy in the song). Then he tells him to have a bit of pork crackling (a bit of cracky), until such time as the seamen return with their catch.

[babyboosabz]

LOVE this...what is it about the different accents of britain which is so amazing

[SanddancerDH8]

My favourite part of listening to this? Me fa' singing along with it from the second verse. What a bastard. I figured the only one he knew was Waters of Tyne, but he surprises me again...at any rate, hello from a Geordie lad in Cornwall. Canny way away from home.