I think I even heard that Francis J. Child wrote that song? Does my memory serve correctly?
Marge
-----Original Message-----
From: study of popular / folk / traditional ballads
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mary Seymour
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 3:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: The Fishball Song
Recently I was at a family funeral and once most of the mourners had departed, the daughters (respectable women in late middle age) sang the following as a tribute to their father since it was a song with which he had amused them - and infuriated their mother - during their childhood and beyond.
It is clearly some kind of ballad, though whether Music Hall, Camp Fire or Student Common Room, I couldn't say.
I would be very interested if any of the List know it, know of it, can say where it originates and if they know any alternative words.
I can't begin to represent the tune, only say that each couplet is sung twice. The first time the last syllable is drawn out on 3 notes (down up down) and the second time it is sung on one final note.
It clearly predates the Credit Card! And might it be American since Fish Fingers are more usual over here ? Yet half pence are British pre-decimal coinage.
The Fish Ball Song
There was a man, walked up and down
To see what he could find in town.
He came unto a gorgeous place
And entered in with modest grace.
He drew his purse his pocket hence
And found he had but five half pence.
He scanned the menu through and through
To see what five half pence would do.
The only thing 'twould do at all
Was o( - o - o - o - )ne fish ball.
He called the waiter up the hall
And softly whispered "One fish ball."
The waiter bellowed down the hall:
"THIS GEN'LEMAM HERE WANTS ONE FISH BALL!"
The wretched man felt ill at ease
And softly whispered: "Bread, sir, [if you] please!"
The waiter bellowed down the hall:
"YOU GET NO BREAD WITH ONE FISH BALL!"
There is a moral to it all:
YOU GET NO BREAD WITH ONE FISH BALL.
Mary Seymour
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