Fishing Blues

"Fishing Blues" is a blues song written in 1911 by Chris Smith, who is best known for "Ballin' the Jack". "Fishing Blues" was first recorded in 1928 by Henry Thomas "Ragtime Texas" on vocals and guitar with the introduction and breaks played on quills, a type of panpipe.[1][2] Some later versions by other artists call it "Fishin' Blues".

For the album by Atmosphere, see Fishing Blues (album).

"Fishing Blues"
Single by Henry Thomas "Ragtime Texas"
Released	1928
Recorded	Chicago, June 13, 1928
Genre	Texas blues
Length	2:44
Label	Vocalion (1249)
Songwriter(s)	Unknown
Henry Thomas "Ragtime Texas" singles chronology
"Bull-Doze Blues" / "Old Country Stomp" (1928) "Fishing Blues" / "Texas Worried Blues" (1928) "Arkansas" (1928)

The song ostensibly describes the pleasures of catching, cooking, and eating your own fish, particularly catfish. The refrain runs:

Here's a little somethin' I would like to relate,
Any fish bite, you've got good bait,
I'm a-goin' a-fishin', yes, I'm a-goin' a-fishin',
I'm a-goin' a-fishin' too.

In 1930, the Carter Brothers (Armenter "Bo Carter" Chatmon, perhaps with his brothers Lonnie and Sam Chatmon) recorded an unreleased track for Okeh Records titled "Any Fish Will Bite if You Got Good Bait".[3] This may have been the same song; suggesting that it may have been traditional rather than written by Thomas.

Thomas' recording was included on the 1952 compilation album Anthology of American Folk Music, Volume Three: Songs (Blue Singing).

In 1964, the song was revived by American folk musician Mike Seeger. Over the next five years, it was recorded by artists including The Holy Modal Rounders, Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band, The Lovin' Spoonful (on their debut album Do You Believe in Magic), John Martyn and Taj Mahal. It has since been recorded many times. The recording history as of 2015 suggests that it has attained the status of a folk and blues standard.

Recordings

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• 1928 – Henry Thomas, 10-inch 78 rpm single Vocalion 1249 [4][5]
• 1930s{?) – Sam Chatmon,[6] included on the 1979 album Sam Chatmon's Advice [7]
• 1964 – Mike Seeger,[8] on the album Mike Seeger [9]
• 1965 – The Holy Modal Rounders,[10][11][12] on the album The Holy Modal Rounders 2
• 1965 – The Lovin' Spoonful,[13] on the album Do You Believe in Magic
• 1966 – Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band,[14] on the album See Reverse Side for Title [15]
• 1968 – John Martyn,[16] on the album The Tumbler
• 1969 – Taj Mahal,[17][18][19][20] on the album Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home
• 1971 – John Sebastian, on the album Cheapo-Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John Sebastian [21]
• 1975 – Lillebjørn Nilsen,[22] on the album Byen med det store hjertet [23]
• 1977 – Richard Bargel,[24] on the album Blue Steel [25]
• 1984 – John Sebastian,[26] on the 2001 album One Guy, One Guitar [27]
• 1988 – Taj Mahal, on the album Shake Sugaree
• 1989 – The Sony Kidsongs Singers on the LP record and video, A Day at Camp
• 1990 – Nappy Brown,[28] on the album Apples and Lemons [29]
• 1990 – Taj Mahal, on the album Big Blues: Live at Ronnie Scott's
• 1994 – Point Blank, on the album Bez struje
• 2000 – Paramount Trio,[30] on the album At the Crossroads of Collingwood and Fitzr [31]
• 2001 – Felonius Blues Revue,[32] on the album Sketches in Blue [33]
• 2001 – David Thomas,[34] on the album The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited [35]
• 2001 – Claire Tomlinson,[36] on the album Black, White and Blues, Vol. 1 [37]
• 2002 – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,[38] on the album Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume III
• 2002 – Teja and Luke,[39] on the album Better Day [40]
• 2003 – Disney,[41] on the soundtrack album Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites [42]
• 2003 – Doofus,[43] on the album Handful of Songs [44]
• 2003 – Jean-Jacques Milteau,[45] on the album Blue 3rd [46]
• 2003 – Artie Traum, Chris Shaw and Tom Akstens,[47] on the album Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing [48]
• 2003 – David Thompson and Ben Winship,[49][50] on the album Fishing Music [51]
• 2004 – The Juggernauts, [52] on the album As We Like It [53]
• 2006 – Blues Etc.,[54] on the album Blues Etc. [55]
• 2006 – Ben Bonham,[56] on the album Kids Only [57]
• 2006 – The Gutbucket Jug Band,[58] on the album Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue [59]
• 2006 – Gareth Hedges and Lance Bennett,[60] on the album Candy Man [61]
• 2006 – Hell's Kitchen,[62] on the album City Streets [63]
• 2006 – Peter "Madcat" Ruth,[64] on the album Live in Rio [65]
• 2006 – Someday Baby,[66] on the album Backbone Move [67]
• 2007 – Bill and Kristin Morris,[68] on the album Not Your Regular Cup of Tea [69]
• 2008 – Steve Baker and Dick Bird,[70] on the album King Kazoo [71]
• 2008 – Electric Apricot,[72] on the soundtrack album of the movie Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo [73]
• 2009 – Graham Hine,[74] on the album You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon [75]
• 2015 – Spuyten Duyvil,[76] on the album The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1 [77][78]

Other songs

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The following songs have similar titles to the one which is the subject of this article, but are different from it and from each other:

• 1932 – Memphis Minnie feat. Kansas Joe McCoy, "Fishin' Blues" Vocalion 1711, a different blues song [79][80]
• 1941 – Robert Petway, "Catfish Blues" Bluebird 8838,[81][82][83][84][85] a different blues song, itself a reworking of an earlier song, later reworked by Muddy Waters as "Rollin' Stone"
• 1944 – Woody Guthrie, "Talking Fishing Blues", a talking blues included in The Asch Recordings
• 1960 – Tubby Hayes, "Fishin' the Blues"[86] on the album London Jazz Quartet [87]
• 1965 – New Lost City Ramblers, "Fishing Creek Blues"[88] on the album Rural Delivery No. 1 [89]
• 1986 – Public Image Ltd, "Fishing" on the album Album
• 1988 – The Waterboys, "Fisherman's Blues" on the album Fisherman's Blues
• 1994 – Jandek, "Fishing Blues" on the album Graven Image
• 1996 – William Clarke, "Fishin' Blues"[90] on the album The Hard Way [91]
• 1997 – Deb Pasternak, "Fishing Blues"[92] on the album More [93]
• 2000 – Dick Kimmel, "Fishin' Creek Blues"[94] on the album Fishin' Creek Blues [95]
• 2006 – John Dunnigan, "Fishing Blues"[96] on the album The View from Here [97]
• 2007 – Brandon Strickland, "Fishing Blues"[98] on the album This Side of the River [99]
• 2013 – Clannad, "The Fishing Blues" on the album Nádúr

References

1. "Henry Thomas discography". wirz.de. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
2. "1000–1500 (1926–1930)". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
3. "Sam Chatmon discography". wirz.de. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
4. Henry Thomas – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
5. Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
6. Sam Chatmon – Fishing Blues, Composed by Sam Chatmon at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
7. Owens, Thom. Sam Chatmon – Sam Chatmon's Advice at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
8. Mike Seeger – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
9. Unterberger, Richie. Mike Seeger – Mike Seeger at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
10. The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
11. The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
12. The Holy Modal Rounders – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
13. Greenwald, Matthew. [https://www.allmusic.com/song/fishin-blues-mt0052214557 The Lovin' Spoonful – Fishin' Blues] at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
14. Jim Kweskin – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
15. Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band – See Reverse Side For Title at Discogs (list of releases)
16. John Martyn – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
17. Taj Mahal – Fishing Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
18. Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
19. Taj Mahal – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas / Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
20. Taj Mahal / The Pointer Sisters – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
21. John Sebastian – Cheapo-Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live at Discogs (list of releases)
22. Lillebjørn Nilsen – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
23. Lillebjørn Nilsen – Byen Med Det Store Hjertet at Discogs (list of releases)
24. Richard Bargel – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
25. Richard Bargel – Blue Steel at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
26. John Sebastian – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
27. Unterberger, Richie. John Sebastian – One Guy, One Guitar at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
28. Nappy Brown – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
29. Wynn, Ron. Nappy Brown – Apples & Lemons at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
30. Paramount Trio–Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
31. Various Artists – At the Crossroads of Collingwood & Fitzr at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
32. Felonius Blues Revue – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
33. Felonius Blues Revue – Sketches in Blue at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
34. David Thomas – Fishing Blues (Live), Composed by David Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
35. Tamarkin, Jeff. Various Artists${\displaystyle \wedge }$The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
36. Claire Tomlinson – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
37. Claire Tomlinson – Black, White & Blues, Vol. 1 at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
38. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Taj Mahal at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
39. Teja & Luke – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
40. Teja & Luke – Better Day at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
41. Disney – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
42. Phares, Heather. Disney – Finding Nemo: Ocean Favorites at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
43. Doofus – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
44. Doofus – Handful of Songs at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
45. Howard Johnson / Jean-Jacques Milteau – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
46. JJ Milteau – Blue 3rd at Discogs
47. Big Trout Radio / Traum Shaw & Akstens – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
48. Traum Shaw & Akstens – Big Trout Radio: Songs About Fishing at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
49. David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
50. David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishin' Blues, Composed by Henry Thomas at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
51. Ruhlmann, William. David Thompson / Ben Winship – Fishing Music at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
52. The Juggernauts – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
53. The Juggernauts – As We Like It at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
54. Blues etc / Blues Etc – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
55. Blues etc – Blues etc at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
56. Ben Bonham – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
57. Ben Bonham – Kids Only at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
58. The Gutbucket Jug Band – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
59. The Gutbucket Jug Band – Raunchy, Paunchy, Rootless and Blue at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
60. Gareth Hedges – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
61. Gareth Hedges – Candyman at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
62. Hell's Kitchen – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
63. Hell's Kitchen – City Streets at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
64. Peter "Madcat" Ruth – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
65. Peter "Madcat" Ruth – Live in Rio at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
66. Someday Baby – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
67. Someday Baby – Backbone Move at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
68. Bill & Kristin Morris – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
69. Bill & Kristin Morris – Not Your Regular Cup of Tea at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
70. Steve Baker – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
71. Steve Baker – King Kazoo at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
72. Electric Apricot / Henry Thomas / Henry Thomas – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
73. Ruhlmann, William. Original Soundtrack – Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
74. Graham Hine – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
75. Graham Hine – You'll Be Hearing from Me Real Soon at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
76. Spuyten Duyvil – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
77. Spuyten Duyvil The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1: Essential Traditional Music Arranged For Today's Listener By Spuyten Duyvil at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
78. "The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1 – Spuyten Duyvil". amazon.com. ASIN B00U1TGNYW. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
79. "1500–1800 (1930–1932)". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
80. Kansas Joe McCoy / Memphis Minnie – Fishin' Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
81. "Robert Petway discography". wirz.de. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
82. "BLUEBIRD numerical listings 8500–9042". 78discography.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
83. Robert Petway – Catfish Blues, Composed by Robert Petway / Traditional at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
84. Robert Petway / Big Joe Williams – Catfish Blues, Composed by Robert Petway at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
85. Tommy McClennan / Robert Petway – Catfish Blues, Composed by Robert Petway at AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
86. Tony Crombie / Tubby Hayes – Fishin' the Blues, Composed by Tony Kinsey at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
87. London Jazz Quartet – London Jazz Quartet at Discogs (list of releases)
88. The New Lost City Ramblers – Fishing Creek Blues, Composed by Tracy Schwarz at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
89. "The New Lost City Ramblers discography". wirz.de. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
90. William Clarke – Fishing Blues, Composed by William Clarke at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
91. Erlewine, Michael. William Clarke – The Hard Way at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
92. Deb Pasternak – Fishing Blues, Composed by Deb Pasternak at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
93. Huey, Steve. Deb Pasternak – More at AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
94. Dick Kimmel – Fishin' Creek Blues, Composed by Tracy Schwarz at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
95. Anderson, Rick. Dick Kimmel – Fishin' Creek Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
96. John Dunnigan – Fishing Blues at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
97. John Dunnigan – The View Fromclarification needed] Here at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
98. Brandon Strickland – Fishing Blues, Composed by Brandon Strickland at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
99. Brandon Strickland – This Side of the River at AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.