I'm leaving the fishin' the life I have known
The battle with nature that nobody's won
The fish stocks are dwindlin' and the shoals hard to find
I'm leaving the fishin' I've made up my mind.
Farewell tae the haven my heart it is sad
The drifters I'm leavin' tae work on the land.
My father worked drifters my grandfather tae
Ma brother's a skipper on the Elena Mae
And a worked at the fishin' just as soon as a could
So leavin's no easy the sea's in my blood.
I'll miss the wee boats though my thoughts are there yet
Wi' the lads on the Jeannie haulin' the net
We worked hard together and we laughed hard as well
Cursin' the weather and ridin' the swell.
I'll work in the wire-mill it's a good job they say
I'll start and I'll finish the same time every day
The money is constant and my wife she seems pleased
But I'll miss the fishin' and I'll miss the sea.
I'm leaving the fishin' the life I have known
The battle with nature that nobody's won
The fish stocks are dwindlin' and the shoals hard to find
I'm leaving the fishin' I've made up my mind.