[Verse 1]
When last I was a fisherman
Now that was sweet, that was sweet
I'd watch the storms rise up from the sea
And see it as a sign to me
That the sea was still my mistress
And teasing me for love
[Verse 2]
When last I was a fisherman
I'd watch the whale-fish blow
And rise up from the darkest deep real slow
And see it as a sign to me
That she was still my mistress
And teasing me for love
[Chorus]
I never knew why she loved me
I never tried for her favour
I wouldn't have known how
I wouldn't have known how
And I didn't have the know-how
To heel and toe her, heel and toe her
I only knew that she was my mistress
And teasing me for love
[Verse 3]
When last I was a fisherman
I lay along the sea wall
My body pressed against
The blue of her occupation elsewhere
She was busy with the other boats
But I knew she'd turn her belly back to me
When she was free
[Verse 4]
Oh, when last I was a fisherman
I'd stand against the sea
My skiff adrift in ecstasy
The mast a-singing, the salt a-stinging
And I'd see it as a sign to me
That she was still my mistress
And just teasing me for love
[Chorus]
I never knew why she loved me
I never tried for her favour
I wouldn't have known how
I wouldn't have known how
And I didn't have the know-how
To heel and toe her, heel and toe her
I only knew that she was my mistress
And teasing me for love
[Verse 5]
When last I was a fisherman
I lay awake one night
Her cooing and raving nearby (Yeah, yeah)
And I waited in youthful eagerness
For the dawn's first hint of light
For my mistress to come
For she to come to me
I knew she was coming
I could feel her coming
I knew she was coming
I could feel her coming
And I waited and I waited
And I waited and I waited
And I waited and I waited
And I waited
[Pre-Chorus]
'Til I, I raised my voice unto the night
And only heard, I only heard
I only heard a baby, a, a baby, a baby-by
A baby, a baby's, a baby's cry
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
[Chorus]
I never knew why she loved me
I never tried for her favour
I wouldn't have known how
I wouldn't have known how
And I didn't have the know-how
To heel and toe her, heel and toe her
I only knew that she was my mistress
And teasing me for love
[Outro]
This is a song from "The Crow"
When Last I Was a Fisherman was written by Jane Siberry.
When Last I Was a Fisherman was produced by Jane Siberry.