Fisherman Lyrics

My Uncle Norah is in his 70s. He has been a fisherman all his life. Maryee and I recently visited him and he spoke of cooking turtle stew. Maryee and I must get by his house soon to try that stew one day. He cooks it for others from time to time, but he can't have it anymore. I have never tried Turtle stew.

This week I taught P.E. in North Waco and stopped in to Melvin's Convenient Store. Melvin's sells lots in stuff including fishing bait. My dad would stop by Melvin's to get bait when he would take us fishing down at the lake when we were children. Well, while stopping in to get a 50 cent cup of coffee I notice a picture or "three" of an 8th grade student I teach from time to time with this 25 pound turtle. This 12 to 14 year old with his big catches posted on the wall reminded me of my uncle and fishing and all the joy it brings.

Fishing Song

He’s done turned another corner
In his old brown station wagon
Everything he’s carrying and everything he’s dragging
Been round the block a time or two
And one thing he ain’t having
Is anybody trying to get a hankering to
Tell him he got’s to stop his bragging

He’s got his fishing tackle
His bottles of beer
And his tuna in a can
Got his bank poles
His rod and reels
And his itching money hand
Got his live bait
And his stink too
And his dispositions grand
He even got atop his head that double A blowing fan

He’s got a big old turtle he done caught
And those bobbing things you use
Got his travel bag
His medicine kit
And his old gray fishing shoes
Got some extra line and a heavy rope too
And his pimento cheese
By God this man might make a pretty good fisherman out of me

He’s done turned another corner
In his old brown station wagon
Everything he’s carrying and everything he’s dragging
Been round the block a time or two
And one thing he ain’t having
Is anybody trying to get a hankering to
Tell him he got’s to stop his bragging

He’s got his ice chest
His 10 foot boat
And his weights and anchors laid
Got his lawn chair
and his favorite cares
All sitting out the way
Got his frilly hooks
and his makeshift lures
And his ways of doing thangs
Got his place to park and his place to dock and there’s no sign of rain

He got his cheese and summer sausage
His sardines in a can
Got his cup of coffee
His return route
And the day is straight ahead
It's five AM
And it’s me and him
And my eye’s just cleared of red
He gives a grin and looks at me
And this is what he said

Got that great big turtle I done caught
And a little one right behind it
Got just about everything we’ll need
If I don’t we just revise it
But you looky here my darling dear
And I hope you don’t disagree
It’s been that station wagon
That fishing gear
And a life of you and me

Now nothings more important
Than us towing this here line
By God I think that now’s the time to tell you you’ve done fine
So if we don’t catch a dog gone thing
In this here river creek
Just know I love you
You’ve been the best catch this whole half century

He’s done turned another corner
In his old brown station wagon
Everything he’s carrying and everything he’s dragging
Been round the block a time or two
And one thing he ain’t having
Is anybody trying to get a hankering to
Tell him he got’s to stop his bragging

He’s got a big old turtle he done caught
And those bobbing things you use
Got his travel bag
His medicine kit
And his ole' gray fishing shoes
Got some extra line and a heavy rope too
And his pimento cheese
By God this man might make a pretty good fisherman out of me

Blessings~

2am December 2, 2007