Three Score & Ten - The Longest Johns

Methinks I see a host of craft spreading their sails a-lee

As down the Humber they do glide all bound for the Northern Sea

Methinks I see on each small craft a crew with hearts so brave

Going out to earn their daily bread upon the restless wave

And it’s three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby Town

From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, many hundreds more were drowned

Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well

They long to fight the bitter night and battle with the swell

Methinks I see them yet again as they leave the shores behind

And cast their nets into the waves, those herring shoals to find

Methinks I see them yet again and all on board’s all right

With their sails close-reefed and the decks cleared up and the sidelights

burning bright

And it’s three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby Town

From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, many hundreds more were drowned

Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well

They long to fight the bitter night and battle with the swell

Well October’s night t’was such a sight, t’was never seen before

As masts and yards and broken spars came floating to the shore

There was many a heart of sorrow, there was many a heart so brave

There was many a hearty fisher lad who found their watery grave

And it’s three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby Town

From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, many hundreds more were drowned

Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well

They long to fight the bitter night and battle with the swell

And it’s three score and ten boys and men were lost from Grimsby Town

From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, many hundreds more were drowned

Our herring craft, our trawlers, our fishing smacks as well

They long to fight the bitter night and battle with the swell