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