Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
LYRICS IN DESCRIPTION
A song about the Herring fishing industry when it was at its peak in the early 1900`s.
Following the fortunes of the herring lasses.
The Scottish Herring Lassies were the salt of the earth, they followed the herring boats from Northern Scotland down the coast as far as East Anglia, gutting and packing as they went. They were a common sight on the country's docks for many decades during the last century.
---------------------------------
Jess The Scottish Herring Lass
The old Queen died recently
now it's Edward's day
But all the herring in the sea
still comes to Stornaway
they work their way southward bound,
so lassies, off they go
following the silver fish
with every ebb and flow
Move on down to Peterhead
working on the quay
the girls don't stop for wind or rain
blowing in from sea
ten thousand boats, brimming full
coming in to land
two million tons of silver fish
gutted on the sand
-------------------------------------
Chorus
Jess the Scottish herring lass
is coming down the coast
and of all the herring lassies
Jess has got the most
But don't you be a fool and
don't go falling for her charms
buy her drinks all night but
she won't fall into your arms
-------------------------------------
Now they've reached Newbiggin,
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
the Geordie boats are fit ta bust
the lassies wait for thee
the herring girls, they work like men,
no, harder I would say
barrelling the silver fish
fifteen hours a day
Cullercoats, next in line
just a few miles hence
every herring cut and stored
is worth a few more pence
maybe they'll not work Sunday
if the tide ain't right
sampling the silver fish
kippered just last night
-------------------------------------
Chorus
-------------------------------------
Eventually it's Grimsby Docks
on the Herring Slip
World famous Grimsby's stocks
get bigger every trip
Maybe they'll see Freeman Street
a wee dram in the bars
a drinky on the silver fish
Well, they've come so far
By Autumn time, further south
is the place to be
in Norfolk there is Lowestoft
called Herring City
but lassies, they are tired now
the seasons finish here
sending off the silver fish
they'll all be back next year
LYRICS IN DESCRIPTION
A song about the Herring fishing industry when it was at its peak in the early 1900`s.
Following the fortunes of the herring lasses.
The Scottish Herring Lassies were the salt of the earth, they followed the herring boats from Northern Scotland down the coast as far as East Anglia, gutting and packing as they went. They were a common sight on the country's docks for many decades during the last century.
---------------------------------
Jess The Scottish Herring Lass
The old Queen died recently
now it's Edward's day
But all the herring in the sea
still comes to Stornaway
they work their way southward bound,
so lassies, off they go
following the silver fish
with every ebb and flow
Move on down to Peterhead
working on the quay
the girls don't stop for wind or rain
blowing in from sea
ten thousand boats, brimming full
coming in to land
two million tons of silver fish
gutted on the sand
-------------------------------------
Chorus
Jess the Scottish herring lass
is coming down the coast
and of all the herring lassies
Jess has got the most
But don't you be a fool and
don't go falling for her charms
buy her drinks all night but
she won't fall into your arms
-------------------------------------
Now they've reached Newbiggin,
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
the Geordie boats are fit ta bust
the lassies wait for thee
the herring girls, they work like men,
no, harder I would say
barrelling the silver fish
fifteen hours a day
Cullercoats, next in line
just a few miles hence
every herring cut and stored
is worth a few more pence
maybe they'll not work Sunday
if the tide ain't right
sampling the silver fish
kippered just last night
-------------------------------------
Chorus
-------------------------------------
Eventually it's Grimsby Docks
on the Herring Slip
World famous Grimsby's stocks
get bigger every trip
Maybe they'll see Freeman Street
a wee dram in the bars
a drinky on the silver fish
Well, they've come so far
By Autumn time, further south
is the place to be
in Norfolk there is Lowestoft
called Herring City
but lassies, they are tired now
the seasons finish here
sending off the silver fish
they'll all be back next year
