Oh me dad was a fisherman bold
And he lived till he grew old,
For he opens the pane and he pops out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

(Chorus)
If the flame don't flicker 'e'd know
That there's not enough wind do blow,
But if that silly old flame blow out
Then there's too much wind to go.

And often he'd say to me
You'ld be wise before you go
DO you open the pane and pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the north wind rough did blow
Then I lay right snug below;
But I opens to pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the wind comes out of the east
You'll be looking for snow and sleet;
But I opens to pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the wind back into the west
That'll come a rough in at best;
But I opens to pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

When the south wind soft do blow
It's then I love to go;
And I opens to pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

And my poor wife say to me
"We shall starve if you don't go;"
So I opens the pane and I pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blow.

Now all you fishermen bold,
If you live till you grow old,
DO you open the pane and pop out the flame
Just to see how the wind do blows.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Spring 1985, BBC Publications

Notes:
The pamplet says:

Peter Kennedy noted down this song from the Norfolk storyteller Phil Hamond of Morston, Norfolk in 1952. The words of the chorus are a recent addition by Peter and the words and the music were partly composed by Major Hamond, but the expression "Candlelight Fisherman" was once widely used to describe a lazy fisherman. The term is still used at Mevagissey in Cornwall.

A version sung by Bob Roberts (recorded in 1977) can be found on the 'Hidden English' CD (TS600), itself taken from "Songs of the Sailing Barges" (Topic LP12TS361).

Roud: 1852 (Search Roud index at VWML)
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