Northumbrian Fishing Song: "The Harrins Heed"

Oh what'll wi dee wi the harrins heed. Oh what'll wi dee wi the harrins heed. We'll mak it inte loaves of breed, Harrins heed loaves of breed and all manner of things. Of all the fish that's in the sea. The harrin is the one for me. How a ye the day, how a ye the day, how a ye the day. Me hinny oh. It goes on with verses of Harrins guts a pair of beuits. Harrins fins needles and pins. Harrins tail a boat that sails. Harrins eyes puddins and pies. Harrins scales a barrel of ale. Harrins belly a lass called Nellie.

Alan sang this song to me in the vernacular.

WHAT'LL WE DO WITH THE HERRINGS' HEAD?

V1:
(Leader): What'll we do with the herrings' head?
(All): What'll we do with the herrings' head?
(Leader): Make it into loaves of bread,
(All): Herrings' head, Loaves of bread,
And all manner of things.

Chorus (Sung): Of all the fish that live in the sea,
The herring is the one for me!

(Spoken): "How are you today?"
"How are you today?"
"How are you today, me Finny-O?"

V2:
(Leader): What' ll we do with the herrings' eyes?
(All): What'll we do with the herrings' eyes?
(Leader): Make them into puddin' and pies,
(All): Herrings' eyes,
Puddin' and pies,
Herrings' head,
Loaves of bread,
And all manner of things.

V3:
What' ll we do with the herrings' fins?
What'll we do with the herrings' fins?
Make them into needles and pins,
Herrings' fins,
Needles and pins,
Herrings' eyes,
Puddin pies,
Herrings' head,
Loaves of bread,
And all manner of things. Chorus:

V4:
What'll we do with the herrings' guts?
What'll we do with the herrings' guts?
Make them into pairs of boots,
Herrings' guts
Pairs of boots,
Herrings' fins,
Needles and pins,
Herrings' eyes,
Puddin pies,
Herrings' head,
Loaves of bread,
And all manner of things.

Chorus (Sung): Of all the fish that live in the sea,
The herring is the one for me!

(Spoken): "How are you today?"
"How are you today?"
"How are you today, me Finny-O?"

V5:
What'll we do with the herrings' tail? (2x)
Make them into barrels of ale,
Herrings' tail,
Barrels of ale,
Herrings' guts,
Pairs of boots,
Herrings' fins,
Needles and pins,
Herrings' eyes,
Puddin pies,
Herrings' head,
Loaves of bread,
And all manner of things.

Chorus (Sung): Of all the fish that live in the sea,
The herring is the one for me!

(Spoken): "How are you today?" "How are you today?"
"How are you today, me Finny-O?"