The Herring

Lyrics

[Intro] There are many versions of this song And this one is uh, a version I got from me uncle in Dublin [Verse 1] There was a poor 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 it with the tide [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 2] Well, what do you think we made out of his head But the grandest oul oven that ever baked bread With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 3] Well what do you think we made out of his eyes But a lovely big pair of blue butterflies With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads Herrings and eyes and blue butterflies [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 4] Well what do you think we made out of his back But a lovely big sailor and we called him Jack With me herrings and heads, oven baked breads Herrings and eyes and blue butterflies Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 5] Well what do you think we made out of his belly But a lovely looking girl and we christened her Nellie With me herrings and heads, oven baked bread Herrings and eyes and blue butterflies Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack Herrings and bellies and girls called Nellies [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 6] Well, what do you think we made out of his fins But a grand big box of needles and pins With me herrings and heads, oven baked bread Herrings and eyes and blue butterflies Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack Herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie Herrings and fins and needles and pins [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 7] Well, what do you think we made out of his tail But the grandest oul ship, boys, that ever set sail With me herrings and heads, oven baked bread Herrings and eyes and blue butterflies Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack Herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie Herrings and fins and needles and pins With the herrings and tails and ships setting sail [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she [Verse 8] Well, come all you young girls that are tryin' to prude The next two verses is awfully rude So, if you don't like them you can be on your way [Chorus] Take him away and don't delay One your leg, two your leg, three your leg Throw your leg, over me, Johnny says she