Henry's Songbook

A' the week yer man's awa'
And a' the week ye bide yer lane
A' the while ye're waiting for
The minute that he's comin' hame
Ye ken whit way he has tae work
Ye ken the hours he has tae keep
And yet it mak's you angry when
Ye think he just comes hame tae sleep

Through the months and through the years
While ye're bringing up the bairns
Yer man's awa' tae here and there
Followin' the shoals of herrin'
And when he's back there's nets tae mend
There's maybe but a score or twa
And when they're done he'll rise and say
Wife it's time I was awa'

So work and wait and dree yer weird
And pin yer faith in herrin' sales
And aftimes lie awake at nicht
In fear and dread o' winter gales
But men maun wark tae earn their breid
And men maun sweat tae gain their fee
And fishermen will aye gang oot
As lang as fish swim in the sea

A' the week yer man's awa'
And a' the week ye bide yer lane
A' the while ye're waiting for
The minute that he's comin' hame

As sung by Heather Heywood

[1963:] One of the songs written by Ewan MacColl for the radio ballad 'Singing the Fishing'. (Notes 'Edinburgh Folk Festival, vol 2')

See also Fisherman's Wife