—Chris Smith 1911, first recorded 1928 by "Ragtime Texas" Henry Thomas. This is Taj Mahal's version
Betcha goin' fishin' all of the time,
Baby's goin' fishing too
Bet your life, your sweet wife's
Gonna catch more fish than you
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate
Refrain:
Many fish bites if ya got a good bait
I'm a goin' fishin' yes I'm goin' fishin'
And my baby's goin' fishin' too
I went down to my favorite fishin' hole
And I grabbed me a pole and line
Caught a nine pound catfish on the bottom, yes I got him
And I took him on home 'bout supper time, provin'
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate
Refrain
Baby brother 'bout to run me outta my mind
Sayin' can I go fishin' with you?
I took him on down to my fishin' hole
Now whattya think that he did did do?
Pulled a great big fish out the bottom of the pond
And he laughed and jumped 'cause he was real gone, provin'
Refrain
Put him in the pot baby, put him in the pan mama
Cook him til he's nice and brown
Make a batch of buttermilk hoe-cakes mama
And you chew them things
And you chomp 'em on down, singin'
Many fish bites if ya got good bait
Here's a little tip I would like to relate
Refrain
Verse:
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| I | I | II | V |
| I | I | IV | IV – I |
Refrain:
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| I-V | I |