Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
There was a poor thing that flowed in with the tide
It was forty foot long, boys, and forty foot 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 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
Chorus
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
Chorus
Well what do you think we made out of his back, but lovely big sailor and called him Jack
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors and called Jack
Chorus
Well what do you think we made out of his belly, but lovely looking girl and christened her Nellie
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors and called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called
Nellie
Chorus
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 and called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins
Chorus
Well what do you think we made out of his tails, 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 and called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins, herrings and tails and ships setting sail
Well, come all you 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