The Dogger Bank is another of Norfolk Singer Sam Larner’s fishing songs, but this one probably began life in America, went into the music halls and eventually find its way to the fishermen who adapted it (drastically) to their own needs.
Sailing over the Dogger Bank, now wasn’t it a treat?
The wind was blowing east-nor-east, we had to give a sheet
You should see us rally, the wind a-blowin’ free
On the passage from the Dogger Bank to Great Grimsby
So watch her, twigger, she’s a proper ju-be ju
Give a sheet, let ‘er rip, we’re the boys to pull her through
You should see us rally, the wind a-blowin’ free
On the passage from the Dogger bank to Great Grimsby
Our captain, she’s a Shanghai roush, she likes a drop of good ale
Our first mate he’s a ribstone pip and he’s been in many a jail
Our third mate he’s a bush ranger, the worst of all the crew
A scoundrel and a pocket rat and the son of a buckaroo
So watch her, twigger, she’s a proper ju-be ju
Give a sheet, let ‘er rip, we’re the boys to pull her through
You should see us rally, the wind a-blowin’ free
On the passage from the Dogger bank to Great Grimsby
Now we’re the ones to make some noise
We get right drunk, we roll on the floor, we have a jubilee
We get so drunk and full of beer, we roll along the floor
And when our money is all spent, we’ll go to see for more
(Chorus x2)