English Songs

When The Boat Comes In (Dance To Your Daddy) - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

When The Boat Comes in, which is also known as 'Dance To Your Daddy' is a traditional English folk song from the Northern county of Northumberland. It was used as the theme tune of a BBC TV series, also called 'When the Boat Comes In', and it has also featured in a TV advertisement for the Young's brand of fish products.

Click here to download When The Boat Comes In (Dance To Your Daddy) from the iTunes Store.

Chords

Capo at 5th Fret

C
Now come here me little Jackie

Dm7                             G7
Now I've smoked me baccy;

C                           Dm7
Let's have some cracky

Dm7     F       G7       F
'Til the boat comes in.

C
And you shall have a fishy

Dm7         G7
on a little dishy,

C                           Dm7
You shall have a fishy

Dm7         F       G7       F
When the boat comes in.

        C                                   Dm7               G7
And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,

C                                    F            G7          C
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,

C                                    Dm7              G7
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,

C                                    F            G7          F
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.

The chords for 'When The Boat Comes In' (also known as 'Dance To Your Daddy') will work with the YouTube video, which features a lovely recording of the song by Bob Fox. However, you can vary them a little if you like. For example, playing an F on the end of each verse (as writen) lends the song an unresolved feel. Playing a C chord at the end of each verse instead will also work, but will make the verses sound resolved. Experiment to see what you like best.

Lyrics

Now come here me little Jackie
Now I've smoked me baccy;
Let's have some cracky
'Til the boat comes in.

And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.

You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

Now here's your mother humming,
Like a canny woman;
Yonder comes your father,
Drunk - he cannot stand.

And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.

You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a haddock
when the boat comes in.

Now Tommy's always fuddling,
He's so fond of ale,
He's very kind to me,
I hope he'll never fail.

And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.

You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a mackeral
when the boat comes in.

Now I like a drop myself,
When I can get it sly,
And you, my bonny bairn,
You'll like it well as I.

And you shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a fishy
when the boat comes in.

And dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing,
Dance to your daddy, sing to your mummy,
Dance to your daddy, to your mummy sing.

You shall have a fishy
on a little dishy,
You shall have a bloater
when the boat comes in.

Now may we get a drop,
As oft as we stand in need;
And well may the keel row
That brings the bairns their bread.