Tom: Dm
Dm C Dm C
Dm Bb F C
Bb C Bb
[Verse 1]
Dm C
Oh you who look down on me with that judgement in your eyes
Dm C
While the jury picks its fate for me I'd have you save your sighs
F Dm F C
As a child with no family I was begging in the street
F C Bb
When great fortune came and made me a herring girl
[Verse 2]
Dm C
I don't come from there islands from England I have grown
Dm C
And born in Great Yarmouth that is my native home
F Dm F C
In autumn when the girls all chased the fish down from the north
F C Bb
How I longed that I would one day be a herring girl
[Verse 3]
Dm C
A young girl down from Aberdeen took sick into her bed
Dm C
I asked if there was work and down to Rona I was led
F Dm F C
Oh she smiled at the height of me and said that I would do
F C Bb
And as a packer I was joined to be a herring girl
[Verse 4]
Dm C
The season started up in Scotland, I'd just turned 16
Dm C
And Rona she's the greatest gutter Stornoway has seen
F Dm F C
At 80 fish a minute, and with Mary not much less
F C Bb
We 3 were famed as the best crew of herring girls
[Instrumental]
Dm C Dm C
Dm Bb F C
Bb C Bb
[Verse 5]
Dm C
Last Saturday was dancing day and the boys were in the town
Dm C
We were packing up and clean off and heading for our room
F Dm F C
When a stranger crept behind us in an alley out the back
F C Bb
Out to catch himself a couple of fresh herring girls
[Verse 6]
Dm C
Oh so suddenly he's on us and he's knocked me to the ground
Dm C
And he's pinned our Rona by the neck so she couldn't make a sound
F Dm F C
But from her apron pocket fell a knife so keen and sharp
F C Bb
I've taught that man the price of fishing for a herring girl
[Verse 7]
Dm C
Oh you who look down on me with that judgement in your eyes
Dm C
While the jury picks its fate for me I'd have you save your sighs
F Dm F C
For I'd gladly do the same again to any man that tries
F C Bb
To test his luck and take advantage of a herring girl
[Outro]
Dm C Dm C
Dm Bb F C
Bb C Bb
Bb C Bb
