The Fish Wives Tale

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Early morn' the clicking of clogs on the cobbled streets
The fish baskets collecting, on these cold harbour walls
It is here the fish wives gather for their morning greets
These fish; fresh as can be, from the fishermen’s hauls

The fish baskets collecting, on these cold harbour walls
To be gutted; and, beheaded, by fully skilled fish wives
These fish; fresh as can be, from the fishermen’s hauls
Laddie; sitting with his wheel, to sharpen up the knives

To be gutted; and, beheaded, by fully skilled fish wives
Gossiping their ails and, complaining of their own strife
Laddie; sitting with his wheel, to sharpen up the knives
Whose sharpen tongues, be as sharp as their own knife

Gossiping their ails, and complaining of their own strife
While others sing songs; as if to cover up their whining
Whose sharpen tongues, be as sharp as their own knife
To declaring their recipes; as to add zest to their dining

While others sing songs, as if to cover up their whining
The girls collecting the heads, to be put into fish broths
To declaring their recipes, as to add zest to their dining
For some best of fish to as be hidden under apron cloth

The girls collecting the heads, to be put into fish broths
As hungry seagulls scavenging to find something to eat
For some best of fish to as be hidden under apron cloth
With dogs and children as fighting at the fish wives feet

As hungry seagulls scavenging to find something to eat
It is here the fish wives gather for their morning greets
With dogs and children as fighting at the fish wives feet
Early morn'; the clicking of clogs on the cobbles streets

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