Fishing Blues

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

"Fishing Blues" (also "Fishin' Blues") is a blues song written in 1911 by Chris Smith, who is best known for "Ballin' the Jack".^[1] "Fishing Blues" was first recorded in 1928 by "Ragtime Texas" Henry Thomas on vocals and guitar with the introduction and breaks played on quills, a type of panpipe. It is Roud Folk Song Index No. 17692.^[2]

"Fishing Blues"
Single by Henry Thomas
Released	1928
Recorded	Chicago, June 13, 1928
Genre	Texas blues
Length	2:44
Label	Vocalion
Songwriter(s)	Chris Smith
Henry Thomas 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 includes:

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.

Recordings

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