Dance to your Daddy
You shall have a fish,
You shall have a fin
You shall have a herring
When the boat comes in
You shall have a haddock
Baked in a pan
Dance to your daddy
My little man....
Dance to your daddy,
Sing to your mammy
Dance to your daddy
To your mammy sing
Dance to your daddy
Sing to your mammy
Dance to your daddy
To your mammy sing
When you are a young man
Go unto the trades
Find yourself a skill and
Wages you’ll be paid
Then with all your wages
Buy yourself some land
Dance to your daddy
My little man
Chorus
When you are a man and
Come to take a wife
You shall have a girl and
Love her all your life..
She shall be your girl
You shall be her man
Dance to your daddy
My little man...
Chorus
As you’re growing older
Father to a son
Sing to him your songs
Sing of all you’ve done
Pass along the old ways
Let his song begin
Dance to your daddy
My little man
Chorus
Vocals
Bass
Spanish Guitar, Ukulele
Arrangement
MIXING, EDITING, MASTERING
Music & Lyric
“Dance” Jig
Pipes & Flute
BodhrÁn
Brendan Hayes
James Blennerhassett
Brendan Hayes
Brendan Hayes
James Blennerhassett
Traditional
Brendan Hayes
James McMahon
Robbie Walsh
Funny how Philip King’s explorations in the “Bringing it all Home” project of some years ago, emphasised that many peoples and traditions often lay claim to songs that have travelled across distances and time so often, that everybody thinks they own the song. And they do, in reality. Songs are not owned by nations.. They may derive from a certain culture, but good melodies and sensitive lyrics are always owned by peoples of the world who enjoy and play/sing them.
Such with this song, requested by a Danish audience member, assuming it to be Irish. It is in fact an old traditional English folksong, originating from the fishing villages on the coast of Northumbria. Research reveals various sets of lyrics - I’ve chosen the less bawdy more philosophical set for this arrangement.
