FISHING IN A DORY

Time signature:  6/8
Tempo: ~115  bpm.
Lyrics:  Paul Emberly
Music:  Ray Johnson
Accordion Notation
Beats per bar =  2    (played as a "jig")
One beat = 1.5 dots = ( ; )  or  ( .   " )  or  ( .   '   ' ) 
Either row (high) =  Buttons  5 - 9*
Inside row (low) = Buttons 2 - 5* plus o3*

Intro (and also repeated after all verses, except the last one.)   

 "5  |  .6  "6    .6  "7*  |  .7  "9*    .8  "7  |  ;7*~    ~"    "7  "7*  |  ;6
 "2  |  .3  "3    .3  "3*  |  .4  "5*    .5  "4  |  ;3*~    ~"    "4  "3*  |  ;3

Verse 1 (of 4 or 9)

 ;8   |  .9*  "8   .8  "7   |  .7*  "6   .6  "7*  |   .7    "7    .6      "5*   |   ;5   .r   |
 ;5   |  .5*  "5   .5  "4   |  .3*  "3   .3  "3*  |   .4    "4    .3    "o3*   |   ;2   .r   |
Oh,    fish -in’   in   a     dor - y   off  the    coast of  New-found  -  land, /

"5  |  .6    "6~  ~.  "7*  |  .7   "8~  ~.   '7  '7   |  .7   "7*     .7*  "7   |   "7*    .r 
"2  |  .3    "3~  ~.  "3*  |  .4   "5~  ~.   '4  '4   |  .4   "3*     .3*  "4   |   "3*    .r 
No  gold  mines   but    cod  lines,    it’s the    life that’s real - ly     grand; /

 "8   |   .9*   "8   .8    .7   |    ;6       .6      "7*  |   .7   "6     .6      "5*    |   ;5     ;r   |
 "5   |   .5*   "5   .5    .4   |    ;3       .3      "3*  |   .4   "3     .3    "o3*    |   ;2     ;r   |
The   scoff  of  fish  and   brewis,  it’s    the     life  that     I   would  choose, /

  .6   "6    .6  "7*  |   .7  "9*    .8  "7   |   ;7*~   ~"   "7   "7*  |   ;6~    ~.  
  .3   "3    .3  "3*  |   .4  "5*    .5  "4   |   ;3*~   ~"   "4   "3*  |   ;3~    ~.  
Fish-ing   in   a       dor -y      in  the      morn            -             ing. /


​For last verse, replace the final line of above melody with the following three closing lines:

     '5       '5    |   .6  "6    .6   "7*  |   .7   "8~   ~.  
     '2       '2    |   .3  "3    .3   "3*  |   .4   "5~   ~.  
There’s   a       stor- y     in  me      dor - y,          /

    "5    |   .6  "6     .6  "7*  |   .7    "8~   ~.  
    "2    |   .3  "3     .3  "3*  |   .4    "5~   ~.  
There’s   glor-y     in  me     dor  -  y,        /

 '5   '5   |  .6   "6    .6   "7*  |  .7  "9*    .8  "7   |   ;7*~    ~"   "7  "7*  |  ;6~  ~.  
​ '2   '2   |  .3   "3    .3   "3*  |  .4  "5*    .5  "4   |   ;3*~    ~"   "4  "3*  |  ;3~  ~. 
I’m   a      tor - y     in   me    dor- y      in  the      morn           -            ing. /

Embedded youTube VIDEOS
​Seven videos in various keys:   A=2    D=3     G=2
Key:   D

Tempo:  ~115 bpm

Singer:  Ray Johnson

​Posted by:  oldirishladdie

Ray, with Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, is largely responsible for the popularity of this song.
Key:   G

Tempo:  ~115 bpm

Accordion & voice:  Mark Hiscock

​Posted by:  ​Wade Welsh

from The Music Takes Me Back, trk#13, 2003, Avondale Music, St John's, NL

​This is quite "fast".  For a slightly "slower" rendition by Mark, also in key of G, skip down to the last video on this page.
Key:   D

Tempo:  ~115 bpm

Singer:  Ray Johnson

Accordionist:  Donald Keyes

​Posted by:  Rob Keyes
Key:  A

Tempo: ~110 bpm

Accordion:  Poss Slaney

Posted by:  Newfieposs
Key:  D
​
Tempo:  ~125 bpm

Group:   Baccalieu Rovers

Posted by: Gerard Broderick
​
Key:  A

Tempo:  ~105 bpm

Group:  Mary ?

​Posted by:  labradornl

For beginners & early Intermediates: Mary plays this tune using only the  treble buttons on the outside row, without any bass accompaniment.  Good for learning the melody.
Key:  G

Group:  Shanneyganock

Accordion & voice:  Mark Hiscock

​Posted by:  Pam Park





​
Background Materials, Information & Links
​Lyrics:
Oh, fishin’ in a dory off the coast of Newfoundland,
No gold mines but cod lines, it’s the life that’s really grand;
The scoff of fish and brewis, it’s the life that I would choose,
Fishing in a dory in the morning.
 
Oh, fishin’ in a dory off the banks of Newfoundland,
Yarnin’, fish swarmin’, you’re actin’ like a man;
If the tide is not too strong, then with you there’s nothin’ wrong,
Fishing in a dory in the morning.
 
Wid ya buddy on the cuddy and the fire of birch wood,
Fat-back fryin’ you’re enjoyin’, the black tea tastes so good;
There’s music in your laugh, killin’ big ones with a gaff,
Fishing in a dory in the morning.
 
Hurry and gurry, I’m headin’ home at last,
Get me auld sou’wester, stick up me jigger mast;
Now me auld six cantal punt, let me down that’s what she won’t,
There’s story in me dory,  There’s glory in me dory,
I’m a tory in me dory in the morning.


​For the other five verses and interesting background information, see Ray Johnson's book I KNOW THAT VOICE: Rural Newfoundland & Labrador Songs, Recitations, Accordion and Fiddle Tunes 1969-1982, published by DRC Publishing, 2013.
​
Background Links:
Click HERE for additional info about dory fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Click HERE for additional information about this song, including a glossary and a special note from Ray Johnson about the song's rhythm (which lends itself to the push and pull of the button accordion).  This site also includes guitar chords for this song.

Click HERE  for biographical info on Ray Johnson.
​
Click HERE to link to the Bay de Verde "Notables" page, which includes a photo of Paul Emberley and a brief note.  Mr. Emberley, who wrote these lyrics, passed away in 2012 at the age of 95.