There was a queer thing that flowed in with the tide
It was forty feet long, boys, and forty feet wide
And we called it the Herring that came in with the tide
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
And what do you think we made out of his head
Why the finest old oven, boys, as ever baked bread
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
What do you think we made out of his eyes
A beautiful pair of blue butterflies
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Heads and eyes and blue butterflies
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
What do you think we made out of his back
A grand big sailor and we called him Jack
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Heads and eyes and blue butterflies
Heads and eyes and back, called him Jack
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
What do you think we made out of his belly
A lovely looking girl and we christened her Nelly
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Heads and eyes and blue butterflies
Heads and eyes and back, called him Jack
Heads and eyes and back and belly, christened her Nelly
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
What do you think we made out of his fins
A grand big packet of needles and pins
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Heads and eyes and blue butterflies
Heads and eyes and back, called him Jack
Heads and eyes and back and belly, christened her Nelly
Heads and eyes and back and belly and fins, needles and pins
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
What do you think we made out of his tail
The grandest old ship, boys, as ever set sail
With me herring's head, oven bake bread
Heads and eyes and blue butterflies
Heads and eyes and back, called him Jack
Heads and eyes and back and belly, christened her Nelly
Heads and eyes and back and belly and fins, needles and pins
Heads and eyes and back and belly and fins and tail, ship set sail
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, throw your leg over me, Johnny, said she
THE HERRING (GEORDIE VERSION)
What'll I do with my herring's head?
Oh what'll you do with your herring's head?
I make it into loaves of bread
Herring's head - loaves of bread
And all manner of things
Of all the fish that swim in the sea
The herring is the fish for me
Away the day, away the day
My Hinnie oh
What'll I do with my herring's eyes?
Oh what'll you do with your herring's eyes?
I make them into puddings and pies
Herring's eyes - puddings and pies
Herring's head - loaves of bread
And all manner of things
Of all the fish that swim in the sea
The herring is the fish for me
Away the day Away the day
My Hinnie oh
Herring's gills - window sills
Herring's back - fishing smack
Herring's fins - needles and pins
Herring's scales - ship with sails
Herring's guts - pair of boots
Herring's tail - barrel of ale
What'll I do with my herring's tail?
Oh what'll you do with your herring's tail?
I make it into a barrel of ale
Herring's tail - barrel of ale
Herring's guts - pair of boots
Herring's scales - ship with sails
Herring's fins - needles and pins
Herring's back - fishing smack
Herring's gills - window sills
Herring's eyes - puddings and pies
Herring's head loaves of bread
And all manner of things
Of all the fish that swim in the sea
The herring is the fish for me
Away the day Away the day
My Hinnie oh
Oh what do you think of such a thing?
Haven't I done well with my bonny herring?