A Thundering Sort of a Lie

Lyrics

1
When I was a toiler on the deep we hadn't been gangin' far,
When I heard old Aaron shouting out, 'There's a trawler on Thornwick Scar.

Chorus
It's a lie, lt's a lie, it's a thundering sort of a lie.

2
So we ratched 'er over ti norrard, we're all gettin' beastly wet,  (Changed course to northward)
I heard old Walker shouting out, 'Come here, we've riven our net.'  (we've torn our net)

3
As we were approaching Filey Brigg we're having some very bad weather,
I heard old Brassy shouting out, 'Come here, we've brussen a blether.' (Burst a bladder/net float)

4
As we came into North Sea a gale of wind and rain, (North Sea Landing at Flamborough)
I heard old Vicky Bayes shouting out, 'Thoo's missed the four-o-clock train.'

5
We passed 'Sea Jay' at Danes Dyke, Neil Newby's on Bridlington Quay,
He's shouting, 'Bring her back, Frank, Ah's getten another three.' (Three more trippers/anglers)

6
As I was going up Stottlebink I met old Jossy Pop,
He said, 'If I can't walk up to pub then I shall have to hop.'

7
There's 'Rachael K' at back o' booey (buoy) , she's loaded ti gunnels wi' fillet;
I heard Pete Firth shouting out, 'We've nowt but a couple o' billet.' (local term for a type of cod)

8
Now Flamborough lads can't land any cod, the quotas are causin' them grief,
But Brid lads they're all smilin' now since Rollo's landin' beef.

9
When I was a toiler on the deep we hadn't been gangin' far,
When I heard old Aaron shouting out, 'There's a trawler on Thornwick Scar.'

Recorded for The Yorkshire Garland Group by Mark Ellison at The National Centre for Early Music, York, 15th September 2007.

This is a traditional song

Provenance

For many years Jim Eldon has entertained holiday-makers taking a trip out of Brid Harbour on The Yorkshire Belle with his local songs accompanied on his fiddle. Though from Hull, Jim plays in a band with Bridlington musicians and has been welcomed into the fishing community around Bridlington Harbour and Flamborough where he has obtained many of his songs. This one he obtained in bits and pieces over a long period from the local fishermen who feature in the song. 'Sea Jay' and 'Rachael K' are fishing boats out of Bridlington. See also TYG 19, a similar song from the same sources.

Stanza 5 'Three more passengers'. A bit of fun; the boat was already out to sea by then.

Stanza 8 'Rollo's landin' beef'. Rollo is notorious for hauling a live cow out of the harbour that had fallen into the sea further down the coast.