Shoals of Herring | The Longest Johns 

This...this is just beautiful. For the first time in the day, I just stopped, completely. I wasn't thinking or doing, nothing. I was completely captivated by your harmonies and felt so very alive. I would truly love for you to perform this live on your Voyage tour at some point. Edit: after listening to this on loop for the past few days, imma just say it, Nantucket officially has a competitor

A herring fisher born and raised, I'll sure be humming this come the spring season!

This is the most beautiful arrangement of this song I've heard since The Corries.

With the nets and gear we're faring On the wild and wasteful ocean It's there in the deep we harvest and reap our bread As we hunt the bonny shoals of herring Oh, it was a fine and a pleasant day Out of Yarmouth harbour I was faring As a cabin boy on a sailing lugger For to go and hunt the shoals of herring Oh, the work was hard and the hours long And the treatment, sure it took some bearing There was little kindness and the kicks were many As we hunted for the shoals of herring Oh, we fished the Swarte and the Broken Bank I was cook and I'd a quarter-sharing And I used to sleep standing on my feet And I'd dream about the shoals of herring Now you're up on deck, you're a fisherman You can swear and show a manly bearing Take your turn on watch with the other fellas While you're searching for the shoals of herring In the stormy seas and the living gales Just to earn your daily bread you're daring From the Dover Straits to the Faroe Islands As you're following the shoals of herring Oh, I earned my keep and I paid my way And I earned the gear that I was wearing Sailed a million miles, caught ten million fishes We were sailing after shoals of herring

Well that was as warm as a midsummer's evening. As a cat sleeping in the sun. As a hug from a loved one.

Oh that was lovely and soft and adequate and just what I needed today

This was a new one for me (yes, I'm an uncultured creature), but it was very very nice. Love the warm, cozy harmonies

Enchanting. So different from the rendition of the legendary Luke Kelly but as least as beautiful, your version lives up to this wonderful song that Ewan MacColl once gave to the world and all of us.

This is beautiful, and the shiny stringy singy thingy and Robbie's longer hair are looking cool. Does make me think about the fact that we probably don't *have* ten million herring in the North Sea any more and get sad about it, though. Marine conservation areas are important.

I truly feel, of the non-originals, this is the most beautiful song you guys have sung. I love it so much. 💕

It's been years since I heard this song (From a Gordon Bok album, now lost). So hearing this again was like a hug. Thank you, fellows!

Absolutely beautiful, a lovely song sung by the 3 lovely guys 👍

Lovely to listen to this afternoon. Harkens back to a time long ago.

As someone whose first exposure to folk songs was through Inside Llewyn Davis, this was incredibly pleasant to see pop-up. One more from the soundtrack covered!

Brilliant harmonies. Love it guys thanks. My two wee bearns lovin it

Robbie's voice is just perfect for this. The blends are gorgeous.

Beautiful! Thanks, boys. Star of the County Down is once again my perpetual request.

Ewan MacColl was a genius.

This song is one I would not be able to get enough of

I’ve only just discovered this song but already I love it. As a teenager growing up in the age of the internet and seeing many conflicting viewpoints, ideologies, and generally watching people fight over the smallest and most trivial of things, this harkens back to a simpler time. One where these folks just had to worry about doing their jobs, and getting back home to their loved ones. It almost, in a way, makes me nostalgic for a time that I never lived in. I really like this and Little Pot Stove for that reason.

Beautiful version of one of my favourite songs

i was REALLY wondering if you guys were going to learn this song. it was indeed as adequate as i hoped it would be.

Beautiful.

One of my favorites. Thank you so much for this beautiful performance.

It's my first time hearing this song and I love how relaxing it is. Absolutely fantastic. Could you please do Fire on the Water or Wreck of the Carl D. Bradley next? They're by Lee Murdock and are two of my favourites.

You guys do not stop getting better, do you!

Beautiful rendition, great harmonies.

It feels like always loved this song - I can't remember when I first heard it as a child. It's lovely to hear you doing it so beautifully.

Never heard this song before.. . love it though ❤❤

This was a very beautiful song gents! very adequate.

Absolutely brilliant and beautiful. I've loved it since a friend introduced me to it 30+ years ago.

You guys are always consistent with making great covers of Folk songs, if you still take recommendations,House of the Rising Son

I've never heard this before, but I like it! It has a very nice feel to it. ❤

Double the stringy planky! Yay!

Vary Pretty, you guys always sound phenomenal. thank you for introducing me to a new favorite.

Beautiful song ❤

So beautiful. Thanks so much!

This is rather lovely & the harmonies are beautiful.❤

Assuming you do still want suggestions, and slightly obscure ones, I’ll repeat my very first suggestion for one of these videos. It’s a Simon and Garfunkel song called “Flowers Never Bend with the Rainfall,” and this new song puts me so much in the mood for it, maybe it’ll inspire you in that direction as well.

Every song they release becomes my favourite. Two months in and I still replay this a couple of times in a row when it comes up in my playlist.

I first heard this from The Clancy Brothers on a recording of their Tipperary show in 1995. From that same concert I'd love to hear your version of Kilkelly, and I'm surprise I haven't heard The Mermaid.

'It's there in the deep we harvest and reap our bread.' Is that the same deep they got Seabiscuit from.

You guys never fail to warm up my day.

Oh this is gorgeous

Such a peaceful song that describes such brutal treatment.

This is so beautiful, thanks guys!

This is awesome! Thanks for making my day better :) I would love to hear Flowers of Bermuda next!

Excellent!

Och! So lovely. I've come back and listened many times already. Robbie sings lead, obviously, and it sounds like Andy is singing the high harmony? If so, that's neat.

I loved this song from the legendary Luke Kelly, but also been waiting for yall version too :))

That is a real nice song, good one dudes You should do proper recordings of the jazzy version of chicken on a raft you did on a stream a few months ago, and the retirement song with the newer arrangement with the instruments

Beautiful arrangement, beautifully sung!

Oh wow is that an A1 JD just did at 3:20? Low and impressive as hell!

Greatings and falicitations.

love the corries version. saw this when searching for the song. good to see you have a rendition!!

Damn... I almost cannot breathe...

This is absolutely beautiful! ☺️ Really enjoying it. You guys all do such a spiffing job.

never heard this one before, it's gorgeous!! 🩷🐟

I'd love to hear what you could do with English curse by Frank Turner

Perfect harmonies. Thank you for warming up the day.

That was beautiful

Very nice!

I first heard this on a Ewan McColl album, bought in my youth. Such a great song, and your harmonies are particularly adequate! Could you look into singing Archie Fisher's "The Final Trawl"?

Never heard this one before... AND I LOVE IT!!! Could you please consider doing a cover of Gloria by the Trials of Cato, Dyin day by Anais Mitchel, or Folsom Prison Blues?

Loved listening to Luke Kelly sing this.

That's beautiful guys and I love it. Thank you another truly great one, listening to you guys sing always brightens my day and best way to start off my morning. Cheers 🙏

beautiful music! i love it

Simply beautiful!

Fabulous guys, no surprises though, it's what you DO and you do it well. Always a joy to listen.

Hello there 👋🏻

this is gorgeous! if you're still taking requests, i'd love to hear bright morning stars

Just beautiful.

Would love to see one of these recordings of Antiguan graveyard or paddy west!

Beautiful job guys 💚

Wonderful performance!

Beautiful song. I'd love to hear you guys sing Bread and Roses.

This is absolutely beautiful, I can't stop listening to it even after 3 weeks. I first heard this from the Kilkennys and I love how both of your takes on it have different feelings but are still both such nice and peaceful arrangements. I would love to see you guys do "Royal Oak" at some point in the future.

Epic.

Amazing as always boys! Fingers crossed this is on the new album!!!

Oscar Isaac: 🙁.... wow...... Wow!

Beautiful

Hey Gents great job. Any chance of getting a cover of The Nancy?

I don't know how, but somehow I managed to miss this fantastic cover drop! Love it! Could you guys please consider covering Jutland (Battle Of) by Les Sullivan?

Still wish there was a Knoxville show at Mill & Mine, or a small secret show at Boyd's Jig & Reel

This song was featured on KXCI 91.3 in Tucson

Beautiful!

Adequate, lads!👏👏👏💙💙💙

I want this to play when I die.

A song written by Ewan MacColl. It's a bit of a shame that artists who have sung this song are more well known than the composer. Ewan was one of my first forays into UK traditional music. For those that aren't familiar with him, it might be worth searching out his music to see what they think. Can also recommend A.L. Lloyd. These aren't shanty singers, just old folk singers. :-)

Could you sing row me bully boys? I have always loved that song since I heard it in the robin hood movie.

I'd love to see you guys do "Star of the county down" if you haven't already

Hoping this comes to spotify.

Very nice

I really like this song.

Love it. My suggestion: Life on Mars

before people understood algae blooms herring shoals disappearing was blamed on adultery. so people would search for the adulterers when they couldn't find the shoals.

You guys should cover more songs in Inside Llewyn Davis, this is beautiful :) Like The Death of Queen Jane and etc

Yo that shirt is so awesome (anyone know where its from lol)

Regular request for Diamantina Drover or Long Run by Redgum or Lachlan Tigers

I love you guys but Ewan MacColl is the god of the Shoals of Herring. I can’t wait to see you in May in Chicago.