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Fisherrow polka

By Jim Johnstone

There is 1 recording of this tune.

Fisherrow has been added to 3 tunebooks.

Download ABC

One setting

1
X: 1
T: Fisherrow
R: polka
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
M:4/4
(f>e)|d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g2 (f>d) e>dc>B|A2 a2 a>gf>e|
d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g>fe>d c>AB>c|d2 f2 d4||
B2 e2 d2 B2|A>F(A>d) f4|e>fg>f e>dc>e|d>ef>g a2 (3AAA|
B2 e2 d2 B2|A>F(A>d) f4|e>f^g>f e>dc>B|A2 a2 a>gf>e|
d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g2 (f>d) e>dc>B|A2 a2 a>gf>e|
d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g>fe>d c>AB>c|d2 f2 d4||
K:G
B4 A>G(A>B) G2 d2 d4|e4 f>=f(^f>a)|(g2 d2) d4|
e4 a>g(f>e)|d2 g2 B2 (e>d)|^c2 (c>B) A>ce>g|e2 d2 d>cB>A|
B4 A>G(A>B)|G2 d2 d4|e4 f>=f(^f>a)|(g2 d2) d4|
e4 a>g(f>e)|d2 g2 B2 (e>d)|c>BA>G F>GA>F|G2 B2 G2||
K:D
(f>e)|d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g2 (f>d) e>dc>B|A2 a2 a>gf>e|
d2 A2 B>AG>F|E2 e2 e3 f|g>fe>d c>AB>c|d2 f2 d3||

Three comments

Fisherrow

OK, This tune is called “Fisherrow Polka”.

Although it’s got a sort of “Barn Dance” feel to it(We’ve had these debates before), I’ve included it among the polkas because the composer named it as such and we don’t have many barn dances in Fisherrow. 🙂

The tune was composed by the well known dance band leader and accordionist from Musselburgh, the late Jim Johnstone. Many excellent musicians played in his band over the years including the very fine fiddler, Marie Fielding.

Fisherrow is a former fishing community just six miles east of Edinburgh with a lovely harbour, sea view, and Scotland’s best real ale pub. It is now part of Musselburgh which is actually just over the River Esk.

The older people of Fisherrow still consider themselves to be separate from those from Musselburgh although we all get on fine.
Whatever you do, don’t suggest to the residents of either community that they are part of Edinburgh as in the words of the old song
"Musselburgh was a burgh when Edinburgh was nane
And Musselburgh will be a burgh when Edinburgh has gane".

Re: Fisherrow

Oh, I should add that you can play about with the parts as you see it.. i.e. repeat or mix up the order to suit.
The setting I learned was for a set of polkas(Barn dances, if you prefer 🙂 ) for a fiddle rally at Dunfermline a few years back.

Also, the recording link refers to the song “As I cam doon by Fisherrow” and not the tune above.
However, you listen to it anyway. Rather good and there’s some lovely art work in this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjIpmUpeL-U