Rather unfortunate that the English Folk Project's description of the song is way off the mark and perpetuates folksong collector Lucy Broadwood's wild theory as to its origins - medieval alegorical Christian symbolism. It's actually a tale of the seduction of a maid by a higher class man (he can afford three gold chains). In the earliest printed broadsides the 'fisherman' is bold indeed - 'He pulled off her morning gown and gently laid her down'. By Broadwood's time the lyrics had been toned down - as can be heard in the video.
If it were, the fisherman would be more comparable to a disciple rather than God himself. Jesus told his followers that he’d make them “fishers of men,” but in stories involving him and fish Jesus did not do his own fishing. If the fisherman was supposed to be God, he would have been called THE Lord, not “some lord.”
@@rowanationer Perhaps of interest. From Bodleian Harding B 11(840) printed broadside (prior to 1839); "He took her by the lily white hand, It was his full intent; Then he untied her morning gown, And gently laid her down, There she beheld a chain of gold hang dangling three times round."
I love Maddy Prior's singing!
Coming from a once great port town, fisherman's blood runs through me and this song speaks to me.
A PROUD HULL CITIZEN GOD BLESS THE KINGS TOWN 👑👑👑❤❤❤
Testicular Cretin
'This song speaks to me'.
Did the fishermen of your town partake in seducing young maidens?
Wonderful. Thank you
"Ah that's Maddy!" I thought.
Beautiful song
Great stuff brother. Love it
Rather unfortunate that the English Folk Project's description of the song is way off the mark and perpetuates folksong collector Lucy Broadwood's wild theory as to its origins - medieval alegorical Christian symbolism.
It's actually a tale of the seduction of a maid by a higher class man (he can afford three gold chains).
In the earliest printed broadsides the 'fisherman' is bold indeed - 'He pulled off her morning gown and gently laid her down'.
By Broadwood's time the lyrics had been toned down - as can be heard in the video.
Have you found an original on youtube?
@@rowanationer
A quick wizz through various versions on TH-cam reveals only the 'genteel' versions.
Yeah thats all i could find this morning
If it were, the fisherman would be more comparable to a disciple rather than God himself. Jesus told his followers that he’d make them “fishers of men,” but in stories involving him and fish Jesus did not do his own fishing. If the fisherman was supposed to be God, he would have been called THE Lord, not “some lord.”
@@rowanationer
Perhaps of interest.
From Bodleian Harding B 11(840) printed broadside (prior to 1839);
"He took her by the lily white hand, It was his full intent; Then he untied her morning gown, And gently laid her down, There she beheld a chain of gold hang dangling three times round."