The Herring - The Dubliners

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

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

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

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his eyes, but lovely big pair of blue

butterflies

With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue

butterflies

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his back, but lovely big sailor and we

called him Jack

With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue

butterflies

Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well what do you think we made out of his belly, but lovely looking girl and we

christened her Nellie

With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue

butterflies

Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls

called Nellies

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

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 and oven baked breads, 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

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

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 and oven baked breads, 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

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she

Well, come all your young girls that are tryin' to prude

The next two verses are awfully rude

So, if you don’t like them you can be on your way

Take him away and don’t delay

One your leg, two your leg, three your leg

Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she