The Fishin' Blues

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 29 Sep 2002 6:44 pm

My friend Roger is quite taken with a Taj Mahal cut of The Fishin' Blues.
I told him that Doc Watson had also recorded a slightly different version of the tune, and that Stringbean used to perform it on the Opry years ago.
Since then, someone suggested that the song goes back a long way before that; possibly the civil war era. Can anyone shed any light on the history/origin of this tune, or other versions ?


Betcha goin' fishin' all the time
Baby's goin' fishin too
Bet your life that your sweet wife
is gonna catch more fish than you
Many fish bite if you got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate
With my pole, and my line
I'm-a goin' fishin', yes I'm goin' fishin'
and baby's goin' fishin' too


Thanks !
-John

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 29 Sep 2002 8:59 pm

John,

In the early '80's I saw Morgan Davis and the Catfish at the Isabella in Toronto, and he did a real fine version, complete with a lenghty "talking blues" intro in which he talkied about his introduction to ice fishing and gave us all his recipe for stink bait (when the neighbors start complaining it's time to go fishing). Mike Holder was playing pedal steel with him at that time, and I think Colin Linden was with him that night as well.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 29 Sep 2002 11:49 pm

Taj's album Giant Step/De ol'folks at home is 1 to have.
i've been playin' Fishin' blues for years.
Children seem to like best...

------------------
Steel what?

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 30 Sep 2002 9:17 am

That's the first "Dropped D" tune I learned on 6-string. Low E tuned to D, thumb alternates between strings 6 and 4, providing a steady Bass. The melody comes out of the 1st position D chord.

Kenny Forbess · Post by **Kenny Forbess** » 2 Oct 2002 4:56 pm

John,
that song sounds like they have "Fishin Pox"

------------------
66 Emmons D-10 bolt-on

Dave Horch · Post by **Dave Horch** » 9 Oct 2002 8:44 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Taj's album Giant Step/De ol'folks at home is 1 to have.
i've been playin' Fishin' blues for years.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agreed! Hey, 'ol Taj did/does some great acoustic slide guitar work on that recording collection. At at the internet stores, look for "giant step", as "de ol' folks at home" doesn't seem to get it.

I"m a huge Taj fan. If you like folk music, as in, music by real folks, you'll like this CD (it's actually 2 CD's). Best, -Dave

------------------
Mullen (See! No "S") D-10 
<a href=http://www.davidhorch.com/music>Photo page</a>