Larry Read: Music

• MP3 short clip, hi-fi play (broadband)
• MP3 short clip, lo-fi play (modem)

When I was six, I remember well
I sailed away in a ship.
I cast me hook right or’ the side
And waited for a nip.
The bob it tossed to and fro,
Disappeared and then came back.
“Matties”, said I, “Today I’ll catch
The fish of Laccernack”
“He He” said one, “Ha Ha” said all
Ye might as well turn back!
The fish of gold, he can’t be caught
By matties twice your match!

Chorus
For the golden fish has eighteen fins,
And a tail that’s twice your size
And no one knows quite where he swims,
Or where his secrets lie!

I knew these men, they told the truth
But a dreamer boy was I.
I cast me hook out once again
And I looked them in the eye.
I mare not catch the golden fish,
But I must give it a try!
I shall not waste my childhood dreams
Just to say goodbye.

The bob it tossed to and fro
Disappeared and then came back.
I closed me eyes and hummed a tune
Of the fish of Laccernack!

For the golden fish has eighteen fins,
And a tail that’s twice me size
And no one knows quite where he swims,
Or where his secrets lie!

Perhaps today will be the day
The fish is finally caught.
I check me bob, it’s disappeared
And the line is rather taught.
I feel a tug of greatest strength
Much stronger than me own.
Have I caught the golden fish
Or mere a sunken bone?
I pull again with all me might
But I can’t take a strong hold.

The unseen fish, he swims away,
Followed by me pole!

For the golden fish has eighteen fins,
And a tail that’s twice me size
And no one knows quite where he swims,
Or where his secrets lie!

Now I’m grown, an older man,
But a dreamer just the same!
I still go out with me fishing pole
And I play the same old game.
Perhaps I’ll never catch that fish,
The fish of Laccernack.
But at least I tried as best I could
And I’d never take it back.

Have you a dream, my little friend?
Then hear these words I say..
“Hold to it fast, and work hard,
Ner let it slip away!”

That golden fish has eighteen fins,
And a tail that’s twice me size.
And no one knows quite where it swims,
Or where its secrets lie.