One of my dear father's favorite Stan Rogers' songs--I can still hear my father humming along, off-key: "we'll work while we can to catch tiny fish for Japan." Rest in peace, dear father, and Stan Rogers, gone too soon.
Where Patterson Creek's muddy waters run down Past the penny arcades, by the harbour downtown All the old Turtlebacks rust in the rain Like they never will leave there again But leave there they will in the hours before dawn Slip out in the darkness without word or song; For a few more years yet they will work while they can To catch tiny fish for Japan [Chorus] No white fish or trout here, we leave them alone The inspectors raise hell if we take any home What kind of fisherman can't eat his catch Or call what he's taken his own? But the plant works three shifts now. There's plenty of pay We ship seventeen tons of this garbage each day If we want to eat fish, then we'll open a can And catch tiny fish for Japan [Interlude] [Chorus] In the Norfolk Hotel over far too much beer The old guys remember when the water ran clear No poisons with names that we can't understand And no tiny fish for Japan... [Outro] So the days run together. Each one is the same And it's good that the smelt have no lovelier name It's all just a job now, we'll work while we can To catch tiny fish for Japan And we'll catch tiny fish for Japan
Jack Fletcher This is a song about the plight of fisherman in the great lakes and is sung in the first person of a fisherman. Specifically this song describes the town of Port Dover in Ontario. The "tiny fish for japan" refer to freshwater Smelt. Smelt is not a typical fish to eat in North america but is popular in other places. However, you can find it on menus in the lakes and coasts. After pollution and, perhaps over fishing the regulations prevented catching the larger fish. The fisherman resorted to netting these fish as it was the only profitable way to continue. The sorrowful tone of the song is indicitive of how this changed the face of the towns. Port Dover is now more of resort town and has a nice museum where you could learn more bout it.
Very disappointed of the views. Not surprised! Love his music! By catch fishers hate the waste but have no licence to land what they catch so it's overboard with it even though they'd killed it in the catch. Huge waste.
What a treasure he was. We are so blessed that he left us so many beautiful songs. Thank you, Mr. Rogers, RIP.
Probably my favourite Stan Rogers song! I wish I could hear the stuff he never got to write! RIP Sir.
One of my dear father's favorite Stan Rogers' songs--I can still hear my father humming along, off-key: "we'll work while we can to catch tiny fish for Japan." Rest in peace, dear father, and Stan Rogers, gone too soon.
listening to this beautiful song in 2023
Where Patterson Creek's muddy waters run down
Past the penny arcades, by the harbour downtown
All the old Turtlebacks rust in the rain
Like they never will leave there again
But leave there they will in the hours before dawn
Slip out in the darkness without word or song;
For a few more years yet they will work while they can
To catch tiny fish for Japan
[Chorus]
No white fish or trout here, we leave them alone
The inspectors raise hell if we take any home
What kind of fisherman can't eat his catch
Or call what he's taken his own?
But the plant works three shifts now. There's plenty of pay
We ship seventeen tons of this garbage each day
If we want to eat fish, then we'll open a can
And catch tiny fish for Japan
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
In the Norfolk Hotel over far too much beer
The old guys remember when the water ran clear
No poisons with names that we can't understand
And no tiny fish for Japan...
[Outro]
So the days run together. Each one is the same
And it's good that the smelt have no lovelier name
It's all just a job now, we'll work while we can
To catch tiny fish for Japan
And we'll catch tiny fish for Japan
Being a landlubber, I would love to know what this beautiful song is about, can anyone oblige please
Great song isn't it?. I suspect it is about the fishing quotas from the 80s.
Jack Fletcher This is a song about the plight of fisherman in the great lakes and is sung in the first person of a fisherman. Specifically this song describes the town of Port Dover in Ontario. The "tiny fish for japan" refer to freshwater Smelt. Smelt is not a typical fish to eat in North america but is popular in other places. However, you can find it on menus in the lakes and coasts. After pollution and, perhaps over fishing the regulations prevented catching the larger fish. The fisherman resorted to netting these fish as it was the only profitable way to continue. The sorrowful tone of the song is indicitive of how this changed the face of the towns. Port Dover is now more of resort town and has a nice museum where you could learn more bout it.
dugdrumma Thanks for that the song makes perfect to me now
Very disappointed of the views. Not surprised! Love his music! By catch fishers hate the waste but have no licence to land what they catch so it's overboard with it even though they'd killed it in the catch. Huge waste.
Anyone know who the fiddler is in the photo? He looks awfully familiar, but I can't place him.
Cameron.
John Allen Cameron.