Whizz Fish Song

As mother's day is approaching, I was recalling various fun memories of my mom. I used to love listening to her sing the Whizz Fish Song. It was a rare treat when we could talk her into singing it as she often struggled a bit to recall the complete words and tune. This song takes me back to my childhood, as well as to years well beyond that, as I try to envision my mom sitting on my grandfather's lap listening to him sing. I never met my grandfather and I think this song is my best connection to him. I found the words today on the web and thought I would share them with you (specifically my family who can share in the memories with me).

Whizz-Fish (Songfest 1948)

On the swaying branch of a rubber tree,
a thousand miles away,
On the banks of the Hula River,
in far off Uruguay,
There sits a nervous monkey,
his eyes with fear agleam;
His tail is dangling gently
within that limpid stream.

Just every nineteen minutes
it 'whistles through the air
With a South American whizz-fish
a-dangling helpless there,
But the teeth of the hungry whizz-fish
are hard on his tender tail,
And if you listen carefully,
you can hear that monkey wail:

(chorus)
Oh, shades of Izaak Walton,
Was that another bite?
If I didn't feel so hungry,
I'd quit this job tonight.
But I love the toasted whizz-fish,
Though his bite drives me insane,
But I do so 'wish to catch that fish
That I manage to bear the pain.

One day a great big Juba fish
With jaws 'bout six by nine
Came swimming down the river,
And seized that monkey's line;
Continued on his journey
Quite unconcernedly,
While the monkey screamed and chattered,
And clang to the rubber tree.

The tree stretched like a garter,
A hundred miles or so;
When the fish let go,
the monkey flew
Like an arrow from a bow;
They say he's still a-flying,
And if you'd care to try,
You can hear him sadly murmur,
As he 'whistles through the sky.

repeat chorus