“The Red Herring”
Description
Song describes the uses made of various parts of the herring, e.g., "Herring's eyes, puddings and pies/Herring's head, loaves of bread."
Notes
This is essentially the same song as the American "Sow Took the Measles" [and Roud lumps them - RBW]; "The Farmer and the Crow" (also American, but also found in Sweden) marries this song to "The Carrion Crow." -PJS
Kennedy declares his "Herring Song" and "The Red Herring" to be the same. I'm not sure I agree; while the theme is the same, the lyrics and stanza form are different. But he's seen more versions than I have; I tentatively follow his lead. The danger, of course, is that Kennedy will lump anything with anything. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Sow Took the Measles"
- cf. "The Mallard"
- cf. "Alouette (I)"
- cf. "The Farmer and the Crow"
- cf. "The Derby Ram" (theme)
Recordings
- Johnny Doughty, "Herrings' Heads" (on Voice07)
- Mikeen McCarthy, "The Herring" (on Voice14)
References
- Vaughan Williams/Lloyd, pp. 86-87, "The Red Herring" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Kennedy 296, "The Herring Song" (1 text, 1 tune)
- MacSeegTrav 118, "The Jolly Herring" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Botkin-NEFolklr, pp. 578-579, "The Herring Song" (1 text)
- Lehr/Best 50, "The Herring" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #128
- BI, VWL086