Fisherman's Wife

MacColl-Traditional A' the week your man's awa' And a' the week you bide your lane A' the time you're waiting for The minute that he's comin' hame Ye ken whit why he has tae work Ye ken the hours he has tae keep And yet it's making you angry when Ye see him just come hame tae sleep Through the months and through the years While you're bringing up the bairns Your man's awa' tae here and there Followin' the shoals of herring And when he's back there's nets tae mend You've maybe got a score or twa And when they're done he'll rise and say Wife it's time I was awa' Work and wait and dree your weird Pin yer faith in herrin' sales And oftimes lie awake at nicht In fear and dread of winter gales But men maun work tae earn their breid And men maun sweat to gain their fee And fishermen will aye gang oot As long as fish swim in the sea A' the week your man's awa' And a' the week you bide your lane A' the time you're waiting for The minute that he's comin' hame Ye ken whit why he has tae work Ye ken the hours he has tae keep And yet it's making you angry when Ye see him just come hame tae sleep