Fishing songs have been played on boat radios since before it was even possible to listen to music on the water. Famous athletes talk about putting on just the right song to get into the right headspace for their sport, so why can’t you?
Put on our choices for the 15 top fishing songs the next time you’re on your way to your favorite fishery, or play them on the water. Fingers crossed it helps you hook up to more fish who agree with your music choice. At the very least they will help you to enjoy your time on the water a little more.
Gone Fishin’ Lyrics
CROSBY (Spoken):
I’ll tell you why I can’t find you
Every time I go out to your place…..
CROSBY: You gone fishin’ (ARMSTRONG: Well how you know?)
Well there’s a sign upon your door (Uh-huh)
Gone fishin’ (I’m real gone man)
You ain’t workin’ anymore (Could be)
There’s your hoe out in the sun
Where you left a row half done
You claim that hoein’ ain’t no fun (But I can prove it)
You ain’t got no ambition
Gone fishin’ by a shady-wady pool (Shangri-la, really la)
I’m wishin’ I could be that kind of fool (Should I twist your arm?)
I’d say no more work for mine (Welcome to the club)
On my door I’d hang a sign
Gone fishin’ instead of just a-wishin’
ARMSTRONG (Spoken): Papa bing
CROSBY (Spoken): Yeah, Louis
ARMSTRONG:
I stopped by your place a time or two lately
And you aren’t home either
CROSBY
Well, I’m a busy man, Louis
I got a lotta big deals cookin’
I was probably tied up at the studio
ARMSTRONG
You weren’t tied up, you dog
You was just plain old…..
ARMSTRONG: Gone fishin’ (CROSBY: Bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah-boo-bah)
There’s a sign upon your door (Pops, don’t blab it around, will you)
Gone fishin’ (Keep it shady, I got me a big one staked out)
Oohhh, you ain’t workin’ anymore (I don’t have to work, I got me a
piece of Gary)
Cows need milkin’ in the barn (I got the twins on that detail, they
each take a side)
But you just don’t give a darn (Give ’em four bits a cow and hand
lotion)
You just never seem to learn (Man, you taught me)
You ain’t got no ambition (You’re convincin’ me)
Gone fishin’ (Bah-boo-dah-do-dah-do-dah-do)
Got your hound dog by your side (That’s old Cindy-Lou goin’ with me)
Gone fishin’ (Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm)
Fleas are bitin’ at his hide (Get away from me boy, you’re botherin’
me)
CROSBY: Folks won’t find us now because
BOTH: Mister Satch and Mister Cros
CROSBY: We gone fishin’ instead of just a-wishin’
ARMSTRONG: Bah-boo-baby-bah-boo-bah-bay-mmm-boo-bay
BOTH: Oh yeah!
Also recorded by: Pat Boone; Gene Autry; Manhattan Transfer: Arthur Godfrey with The Cherry Sisters.
Take Me To The River Lyrics
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me to the river, drop me in the water, water
I don’t know why I love her like I do
All the trouble that you put me through
Take my money, my cigarettes
I haven’t seen the worst of it yet
I wanna know, can you’ll tell me?
I love to stay
Take me to the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water)
Dip me in the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water, water)
I don’t know why you treat me so bad
Think of all the things that we could have had
Love is an ocean, I can’t forget
My sweet sixteen I would never regret
I wanna know, can you’ll tell me?
I love to stay
Take me to the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water)
Dip in to the river (Take me to the river), push me in the water (Drop me in the water, water)
Hold me, squeeze me, love me, tease me
‘Till I can, ’till I can, I can’t tell
Come on and take me to the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water)
Dip in to the river (Take me to the river), push me in the water (Drop me in the water, water)
(Get down Jerry, get down Jerry)
(Good to go, get ready)
(Are you ready Annabelle?)
(Come on lets go)
I don’t know why I love you like I do
All the changes that you put me through
Sixteen candles there on my wall
And I commin’ on the biggest fool of them all
I wanna know can you’ll tell me
I love to stay
Take me to the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water)
Dip me in the river (Take me to the river), drop me in the water (Drop me in the water, water)
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water, water
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water, water
Take me to the river, drop me in the water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water, water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water, water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water
Take me in the river, drop me in the water, water
(C) AL GREEN MUSIC;J E C PUBLISHING CORP
Deep River Blues Lyrics
Let it rain, let it pour,
Let it rain a whole lot more,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues.
Let the rain drive right on,
Let the waves sweep along,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues.
My old gal’s a good old pal,
And she looks like a water fowl,
When I get them deep river blues.
Ain’t no one to cry for me,
And the fish all go out on a spree
When I get them deep river blues.
Give me back my old boat,
I’m gonna sail if she’ll float,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues,
I’m goin’ back to Muscle Shoals,
Times are better there I’m told,
Cause I got them deep river blues.
Let it rain, let it pour,
Let it rain a whole lot more,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues,
Let the rain drive right on,
Let the waves sweep along,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues.
If my boat sinks with me.
I’ll go down, don’t you see,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues,
Now I’m gonna say goodbye,
And if I sink, just let me die,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues.
Let it rain, let it pour,
Let it rain a whole lot more,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues,
Let the rain drive right on,
Let the waves sweep along,
‘Cause I got them deep river blues
I’m Gonna Go Fishin’ Lyrics
Woke up this morning wanting to cry
Then I remember, yes, I know why
She’s a real good one for having her cake
I’m gonna go fishing or jump in the lake
Yeah, I’m gonna go fishing, that’s what I’ll do
Think about nothing, not even you
Catch a real big one, a big speckled trout
Snapping in the water, I’ll pull him on out
Sweet talking liar, spin me a yarn
Tell me a story, big as a barn
Don’t stop listening, I won’t hear you out
I’m gonna go fishing and catch me a trout
If a gal is a liar, a gal is a fool
Playing for keepers and breaking the rules
She’ll be the loser, yet to find out
I’m gonna go fishing and catch me a trout
Here in the water, look at him shine
There goes a big one, that one is mine
Catch up the reel now, I’ve got the feel now
Hooked onto my fly rod, I’ve got me a trout
Sweet talking liar, you’re in for a fall
You tell me a story, you cut to the wall
Don’t go my way, I’m down the highway
I’m gonna go fishing
Yes, I’m gonna go fishing
Yes, I’m gonna go fishing and get me some trout
Fish and Whistle Lyrics
I been thinking lately about the people I meet
The carwash on the corner and the hole in the street
The way my ankles hurt with shoes on my feet
And I’m wondering if I’m gonna see tomorrow.
Father forgive us for what we must do
You forgive us we’ll forgive you
We’ll forgive each other till we both turn blue
Then we’ll whistle and go fishing in heaven.
I was in the army but I never dug a trench
I used to bust my knuckles on a monkey wrench
Then I’d go to town and drink and give the girls a pinch
But I don’t think they ever even noticed me.
Fish and whistle, whistle and fish
Eat everything that they put on your dish
And when we get through we’ll make a big wish
That we never have to do this again again
On my very first job I said thank you and please
They made me scrub a parking lot down on my knees
Then I got fired for being scared of bees
And they only give me fifty cents an hour.
Fishin’ Blues Lyrics
Betcha’ goin’ fishin’ all o’ da’ time
Baby goin’ fishin’ too.
Bet yo’ life, Yo’ sweet wife
Catch mo’ fish than you.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait,
Here’s a little tip that I would like to relate.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait.
I’ma goin fishin’, Yes I’m goin’ fishin,
And my baby goin’ fishin’ too.
I went on down to my fav’rit fishin’ hole
Baby grab me a pole an’ line.
Throw my pole on in, caught a nine poun’ catfish
Now ya’ know I brought ‘im home for suppertime.
Provin’ any fish bites if ya’ got good bait,
Here’s a little tip that I would like to relate.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait.
I’ma goin fishin’, Yes I’m goin’ fishin,
And my baby goin’ fishin’ too.
Baby brother ’bout to run me outta my mind,
Say, can I go fishin’ wi’ chu?
I took ‘im on down to the fishin’ hole
Now what do you think that he did do?
Pulled a great big fish out da’ bottom o’ da pond,
Now he laughed and jumped ’cause he was real gone.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait.
I’ma goin fishin’, Yes I’m goin’ fishin,
And my baby goin’ fishin’ too.
Put ‘im in da’ pot baby put ‘im in da’ pan
Honey cook ‘im ’til he nice an’ brown.
Make a batch o’ buttermilk, Hoe cakes Mama
An’ ya’ chew them thangs an’ ya’ chomp ’em on down
Singin’ any fish bites if ya’ got good bait,
Here’s a little tip that I would like to relate.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait.
I’ma goin fishin’, Yes I’m goin’ fishin,
And my baby goin’ fishin’ too.
Play da’ blues…..
Betcha’ goin’ fishin’ all o’ da’ time
Baby goin’ fishin’ too.
Bet yo’ life, Yo’ sweet wife
She gonna Catch mo’ fish than you.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait,
O Here’s a little tip that I would like to relate.
Many fish bites if ya’ got good bait.
I’ma goin fishin’, Mama’s goin’ fishin,
And the baby goin’ fishin’ too
Talking Fishing Blues Lyrics
I went down to the fishing hole,
And I set down with my fishing pole;
Somethin’ grabb’d my hook and it got my bait
And Jerked me out in the middle of the lake.
Huh it was some jump boy,
I got sunk, kinda baptized on credit.
Fishin’ down on th’ muddy bank,
Felt a pull an’ give a big yank,
I drug out three old rubber boots,
A Ford radiator an’ a Chevrolet coop
(Nothin’ but Junk, so I handed it in For National Defence).
Settin’ in a boat with a bucket of beer,
Hadn’t caught nuthin’ but didn’t much care,
I guess I was pretty well satisfied,
Had my little woman right by my side
(Takin’ it easy, just waitin’ Worm been gone off-a that hook for a couple of hours. I was busy).
When you go fishin’, tell y’ what to do,
Go set down by the grassy dew,
Take a piece of string, tie it on yo’ pole,
Throw it way out in th’ middle of th’ hole.
Find you a good shady tree and then just set down.
(Go to sleep, forget all about it Can’t catch nuthin’ here anyways.)
Well I walked out to a sandy bar,
And I caught myself a big alligator gar,
Drug him home across my back,
Tail was dragging a mile and a half,
Flippin’ an’ floppin’. I sold him for a quarter.
(Shot craps, got in Jall.)
Jumped in the river and went down deep,
There was a hundred pound cat-fish lying there asleep,
Well I jumped on his back and rode him all aroun’
Saddled him up and I came into town.
People came runnin’, lookin’, dogs a-barkin’
(Kids a-squallin’).
Early one mornin’ I took me a notion,
To go out fishin’ in the middle of the ocean,
Well, throwed me a line, I got me a shark,
I didn’t get him home till way past dark.
(Was he a man-eater, tough customer. But he wasn’t quite tough enough.)
Late last night I had me a dream,
I was out fishin’ in a whiskey stream,
Baited my hook with apple-jack,
Threw out a drink, drug a gallon back.
(Done pretty good till the creek run dry. I give the fish back to the finance company.)
A Bad Day’s Fishing Lyrics
Well the fish ain’t bitin’ but the ‘skeeters are,
Little buggers gone hidin’, they don’t wanna get caught,
Too nice a day to be dangle on the end of a line,
But a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work everytime.
Little ole worm around a big ole hook,
He don’t mind the water in this babbling brook,
Just swimmin’ around an’ havin’ a flammin’ good time,
He knows a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work everytime.
Well a bad days fishin’ ain’t a bad day at all,
Just as long as you’re a-wettin’ the line,
When the man in the boat is a tallying up,
He gonna look down at you and you’ll smile
He’ll say (_A bad day_s fishing is good for your soul,
so I decided to the end of your life.)
And a bad days fishin’ beats a good days work everytime.
Well the fish swim by and say to the worm,
Tell the fool up there, he’s a-gonna get burned.
Sleeping in the sun like that mate, he’s gonna fry,
He knows a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work everytime.”
Well a bad days fishin’ ain’t a bad day at all,
Just as long as you’re a-wettin’ the line,
When the man in the boat is a tallying up,
He gonna look down at you and you’ll smile
He’ll say (_A bad day’s fishing is good for your soul,
so I decided to the end of your life.)
Hey! a bad day’s fishin’ beats a good days work everytime.
Well a bad days fishin’ ain’t a bad day at all,
Just as long as you’re a-wettin’ the line,
When the man in the boat is a tallying up,
He gonna look down at you and you_ll smile
He’ll say (A bad day’s fishing is good for your soul,
so I decided to the end of your life.)
And a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work,
And a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work,
And a bad days fishin’ beats a good day’s work everytime.
(From his album: “Looking Forward, Looking Back”)
We’re Gonna Go Fishin’ Lyrics
Bring along your fishin’ pole and leave your dirty dishes
Meet me by the fishin’ pole and where you led your britches
Tell your mom and pa everything’s alright
We’re gonna go fishin’ next Saturday night
Lipstick makeup leave behind makeup takes up too much time
You’re a little honey and you’re quite a dish
But Saturday night we’re goin’ fishin’ you fish
Don’t forget to crayon pen and bring along some manners
Gonna get your catfish and we’ll cook ’em up for dinner
Rollin’ up and fryin’ up and bakin’ alright
We’re gonna go fishin’ next Saturday night
Lipstick makeup leave behind…
Never mind your parlor cup we’re not goin’ dancin’
Cause your daddy’s had enough a dancin’ or romancin’
Bring along your brother that’ll be alright
We’re really goin’ fishin’ next Saturday night
Lipstick makeup leave behind…
[ piano ]
Lipstick makeup leave behind…
Catfish Boogie Lyrics
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Woke up this morning about half past four
Who’d I see tiptoeing cross my floor
My everlovin’ baby with a rod in her hand
Headin’ for the creek called Catfish Land
She yelled at me and said, git up son
Come along with me and let’s have some fun
I grabbed my bridges and a long cane pole
Headed for the red hot catfish hole
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie, do it, baby with me
We arrived post haste on the bank of the creek
Don’t make no noise, don’t even speak
She threaded a worm right on that hook
And dropped it in the water in a shady nook
The bopper jumped when mister whiskers hit
My gal flipped and throed a fit
She pulled and tugged and yelled, what’s wrong
I said, baby he’s a big and that cat’s real gone
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie, do it, baby with me
We fished for a while, caught a great big mess
A long string of blue cap hapiness
She smiled at me and her eyes did roll
She said, set your pole and let’s take a stroll
We walked along the creek, me and my miss
She gave me a hug and a great big kiss
She held me close and said, I love you
I said, I got all of this and fishin’ too
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie, boogie-woogie
Catfish boogie, do it, baby with me
Fishin’ In The Dark Lyrics
Lazy yellow moon coming up tonight
Shining through the trees
Crickets are singing
And the lightning bugs are floating on the breeze
Baby get ready
Across the field where the creek turns back
By the old stump road
Im going to take you to a special place
That nobody knows
Baby get ready
Ooo ooo ooo
You and me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you
Spring is almost over and the summers comin
The days are getting long
Waited all winter for the time to be right
Just to take you along
Baby get ready
And it don’t matter if we sit forever
And the fish don’t bite
Jump in the river and cool ourselves
from the heat of the night
Baby get ready
Ooo ooo ooo
You and me going fishin in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
Staying the whole night through
Feels so good to be with you
And me going fishing in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
Down by the river in the full moon light
We’ll be falling in love in the middle of the night
Just moving slow
You and me going fishin’ in the dark
Lying on our backs and counting the stars
Where the cool grass grows
You and me going fishin in the dark
You Do Your Thing, I’ll Do Mine Lyrics
Put me on a mountain, way back in the backwoods
Put me on a lake with biggin on the line
Put me ’round a campfire cookin’ something I just cleaned
You do your thing, I’ll do mine
I ain’t tradin’ in my family’s safety
Just to save a little gas
And I’ll pray to God any place, any time
And you can bet I’ll pick up the phone if Uncle Sam calls me up
You do your thing, I’ll do mine
Hey, I’ll worry about me
You just worry about you
And I’ll believe what I believe
And you can believe what you believe too
I ain’t gonna spare the rod
Cuz that ain’t what my daddy did
And I sure know the difference between wrong and right
You know, to me it’s all just common sense
A broken rule, a consequence
You do your thing, I’ll do mine
Hey, I’ll worry about me
You just worry about you
And I’ll believe what I believe
And you can believe what you believe too
I’m gonna keep on working hard
Make my money the old-fashioned way
I don’t wanna piece of someone else’s pie
I don’t wanna piece of nobody else’s pie
If I don’t get my fill on life I ain’t gonna blame no one but me
You do your thing, I’ll do mine
You ain’t gonna be my judge
Cuz my judge will judge us all one day
You do your thing, I’ll do mine
With Every Wish Lyrics
Ol’ catfish in the lake, we called him Big Jim
When I was a kid, my only wish was to get my line in him
Skipped church one Sunday rowed out and throw’d in my line
Jim took that hook pole and me right over the side
Went driftin’ down past old tires and rusty cans of beer
The angel of the lake whispered in my ear
“Before you chose your wish son
You better think first
With every wish there comes a curse”
I fell in love with beautiful Doreen
She was the prettiest thing this old town’d ever seen
I courted her and I made her mine
But I grew jealous whenever another man’d
Come walkin’ down the line
And my jealousy made me treat her mean and cruel
She sighed, “Bobby oh Bobby you’re such a fool
Don’t you know before you choose your wish
You’d better think first
‘Cause with every wish there comes a curse”
These days I sit around and laugh
At the many rivers I’ve crossed
But on the far banks there’s always another forest
Where a man can get lost
Well there in the high trees love’s bluebird glides
Guiding us ‘cross to another river on the other side
And there someone is waitin’ with a look in her eyes
And though my heart’s grown weary
And more than a little bit shy
Tonight I’ll drink from her waters to quench my thirst
And leave the angels to worry
With every wish…
I’m Gonna Miss Her Lyrics
Well I love her
But I love to fish
I spend all day out on this lake
And hell is all I catch
Today she met me at the door
Said I would have to choose
If I hit that fishin’ hole today
She’d be packin’ all her things
And she’d be gone by noon
Well I’m gonna miss her
When I get home
But right now I’m on this lake shore
And I’m sittin’ in the sun
I’m sure it’ll hit me
When I walk through that door tonight
That I’m gonna miss her
Oh, lookie there, I’ve got a bite
Now there’s a chance that if I hurry
I could beg her to stay
But that water’s right
And the weather’s perfect
No tellin’ what I might catch today
Well I’m gonna miss her
When I get home
But right now I’m on this lake shore
And I’m sittin’ in the sun
I’m sure it’ll hit me
When I walk through that door tonight
That I’m gonna miss her
Oh, lookie there, another bite
Yeah, I’m gonna miss her
Oh, lookie there, I’ve got a bite
The Fish’n Hole Lyrics
Well, now, take down your fishin’ pole and meet me at The Fishin’ Hole,
We may not get a bite all day, but don’t you rush away.
What a great place to rest your bones and mighty fine for skippin’ stones,
You’ll feel fresh as a lemonade, a-settin’ in the shade.
Whether it’s hot, whether it’s cool, oh what a spot for whistlin’ like a fool.
What a fine day to take a stroll and wander by The Fishin’ Hole,
I can’t think of a better way to pass the time o’ day.
We’ll have no need to call the roll when we get to The Fishin’ Hole,
There’ll be you, me, and Old Dog Trey, to doodle time away.
If we don’t hook a perch or bass, we’ll cool our toes in dewy grass,
Or else pull up a weed to chaw, and maybe set and jaw.
Hangin’ around, takin’ our ease, watchin’ that hound a-scratchin’ at his fleas.
Come on, take down your fishin’ pole and meet me at The Fishin’ Hole,
I can’t think of a better way to pass the time o’ day.