There was a poor thing that flowed in with the tide
It was forty feet long, boys, and forty feet wide
And we called it the herring that came it with the tide
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
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 eyes, but lovely big pair of blue butterflies
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
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 back, but lovely big sailor and we called him Jack
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack
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 belly, but lovely looking girl and we christened her Nellie
With me herrings and heads and oven baked breads, herrings and eyes and blue butterflies
Herrings and backs and sailors called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellies
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 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 called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins
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 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 called Jack, herrings and bellies and girls called Nellie
Herrings and fins and needles and pins, herrings and tails and ships setting sail
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, 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
Take him away and don't delay
One your leg, two your leg, three your leg,
Throw your leg, over me Johnny sez she
The Herring Lyrics performed by The Dubliners are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that The Herring Lyrics performed by The Dubliners is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD