Gone Fishing-Another Village Life Tale--part 2

[Central Scrutinizer]

To All,

 

When I was a teen, sometime in the mid to late sixties/early seventies, I happened upon a song on an album a friend of mine had. It was by Taj Mahal. The song was named "I'm a Going Fishing" or something close to that anyway. It became my instant theme song for getting ready to go fishing, doing the fishing, thinking about fishing, whatever. It was a cool little ditty about fishing. Cracked me up, and still haunts the recesses of my little brain whenever the subject of fishing comes around. Goes something like this...."I'm a going fishin', yes I'm goin' fishin', we're all goin' fishin' too! Bet your life, and your sweet wife, I gonna catch more than you! Many fish bites if ya got good bait, here's a little tip I'd like to relate" and so on. Some old blues type of ditty Taj threw onto an album once. Never forgotten that damned funny song since first hearing it almost 30 some odd years ago. Funny what sticks in your head ain't it? It's my fishing song now. And probably always will be.

I can see myself one day sitting on the bank of a lake, or drifting in a canoe, with a grandchild or two sitting by my side, while we relax and just fish, me imparting words of wisdom into impressionable young minds, all the while humming or singing this goofy old song. "Gramps, what's that song you're always humming?" one grandson will query while watching his bobber bounce lightly in the rippling water. "Nothin' really kiddo. Just an old fishin' song I learned a long time ago. Helps me catch fish if I hum it. Brings me good luck." Then I'll teach him the words to it, and he'll hum and sing it and teach to his own kids, who'll teach it to their kids, and on and on, until one day a kid will be sitting with his old man a thousand years from now and hear him humming this same old, now ancient, fishing song. The same old sun will be shining down on them, the same old song being hummed, a little bit of my blood will flow through their veins, a piece of me will be sitting with them,...just a fishin' and relaxing, and humming along with them.

I arrived in Thailand this trip in early November. After a couple of days in Bangkok I made my way up to Surin where I planned to stay for a few weeks. Once in the house I asked Sis to show me her new fishing rod. She went to the next room and took down a stubby little blue thing with an open reel and came back and handed it to me. "Eh? What the hell's this?" I say to her. "Fishing rod." she replies. "Hmmmm, awful short ain't it?" I mumble while I inspect the thing. I realize it's collapsible.

I bring it outside the house and sit in my favorite chair on the front porch while inspecting this funky rod. I extend it to it's fullest and check out the action. Actually heavier than I like myself. I notice it's a goddamned Zebco.

It extends to be pretty long, maybe six feet or so, and it doesn't lock tight except through the friction of the thickness of each section as you slide them out. Fits snug enough, though I can see this loosening over a short amount of time with usage. "How much baht?" I ask her while whipping the rod back and forth testing it's flexibility. "270 baht." she tells me. "Humph, well that's cheap enough I'd say." I mumble, mostly to myself.

"Okay, later this week we go buy one for me too okay?" She smiles and says "Okay. We go when go to village to see Momma!" "Good! Then we can go fishing while everyone else picks rice and catch a big fish for everyone to eat later at night!" I exclaim enthusiastically. She smiles and chuckles. "No, seriously. 100%." I say, "What's so funny?" She laughs again and says "Not joke?" What does she think I'm joking for? What the hell is this about? "No, not joke. I want to go fishing and catch some fish, and if they're big enough we'll bring 'em back and cook and eat them okay?" She looks at me a bit funny, but shakes her head in agreement. I notice this, but have more pressing needs at the moment, so I ignore this for now. I need to get laid! I've been away almost 11 weeks from my new wife and a definite case of blue balls needs fairly urgent attention. Everything else can wait. (Yes folks, sex is more fun than fishing!)

Sis leaves for a while with look sow to visit a friend of the family and my wife and I reacquaint ourselves for a while, taking full advantage of every minute alone in the house.

(to be continued)

Cent

[Central Scrutinizer]

Just keeping the story together for now.

Cent

[Pom_Jao_Choo]

Me and my buddy's were always going fishing when we were young with extra time on our hands. It wasn't till I was a bit older that I became aquainted with the music of Taj Mahal and much later that I eventually saw him perform in a small club several times.

Fishing Blues was originally released by him

in 1971 on the Album "The Real Thing" http://www.tajmoroots.com/realthing.html

And again in 1981 on a best of's.

I have a Henry Thomas recording of this song which dates it to pre-1929 and who know's how much older it really is.

The beuty of Folk and Blues music forms is that by their nature they are always being re-discovered by newer generations and then updated or made current by this continue to live on. That's why some folk music songs are literally hundreds of years old. I have always been a HUGE fan of pickin style Country Blues and this was fast a favorite of mine. So I don't mean to step on your dream but I am actually hoping that someone else will eventually re-discover this gem and find it worthy of keeping alive.

I know you would not be disapointed with purchasing Taj's best of but if not a search with Morpheus should give you a download within minutes.

Really looking forward to the next part of your story!

[mikem55]

Originally posted by Cent:

[QB]To All,

 

When I was a teen, sometime in the mid to late sixties/early seventies, I happened upon a song on an album a friend of mine had. It was by Taj Mahal. The song was named "I'm a Going Fishing" or something close to that anyway. It became my instant theme song for getting ready to go fishing, doing the fishing, thinking about fishing, whatever.

Cent:

For you:

Betcha goin' fishin' all of your time, baby's goin' fishing too

Bet your life, your sweet life, catch more fish than you

Many fish bites if ya got good bait

Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I 'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby's goin' fishin' too

I went down to my favorite fishin' hole

Baby grabbed me a pole and line

Throw my pole on in

Caught a nine pound catfish

now I brought him on home for supper time

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby's goin' fishin' too

Baby brother 'bout to run me outta my mind

Say can I go fishin' wit' you?

I took him on down to the fishin' hole

now what do you think he did do?

Pulled a great big fish outta the bottom of the pond

And he laughed and jumped 'cause he was real gone

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby's goin' fishin' too

Put 'em in the pot baby, put 'em in the pan

Honey cook 'em till' they're nice and brown

Make a batch of buttermilk coal cakes mama

And you chew them things

And you chomp 'em on down

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby's goin' fishin' too

Betcha goin' fishin' all of your time, baby's goin' fishing too

Bet your life, your sweet life, catch more fish than you

Many fish bites if ya got good bait

Here's a little tip I would like to relate

Big fish bites if ya got a good bait

I'a goin' fishin'

Yes, I'm goin' fishin'

And my baby's goin' fishin' too

[Central Scrutinizer]

same