MUSIC VIDEO: Catfish Stew

A folk song, by Joe Eddie.

Catfish Stew

There was an old bowl come from the North
I’ll recite the recipe for you
It’s a wholesome pot and a tasty pot
A pot called Catfish Stew
It’s a wholesome pot and a tasty pot
A pot called Catfish Stew

The stew starts with a catfish caught
Before Midsummer’s Day is new
A late Springtime pot, and a joyful pot
A pot called Catfish Stew
A late Springtime pot, and a joyful pot
A pot called Catfish Stew

This catfish caught, spring him from the net
And from his lip unhook the lead
Then smack him cross behind the skull
To be sure that he is dead
Then smack him cross behind the skull
To be sure that he is dead

Now lay ‘im flat and stretch ‘im out,
And be sure your prayers are said;
Then with a sharp knife, Lord, be swift,
And then cut off his head
Then with a sharp knife, Lord, be swift,
And then cut off his head

Then grab his tail and raise him high
See where the tail fins spread
Then nail him long upon the board
To be sure that he is bled
Then nail him long upon the board
To be sure that he is bled

Now here’s the part, I’m afraid my friend,
You’ll have to dig your fingers in:
Make just a small cut with your knife
And then peel back his skin
Make just a small cut with your knife
And then peel back his skin

And with your knife take care to slice
The catfish meat from bone
The black is cram but the white is nice
And the yellow fat can be thrown
The black is cram but the white is nice
And the yellow fat can be thrown

Now chop the meat an inch apart
And you’ll have a mound of cubes
For a wholesome pot and an honest pot
A bowl of Catfish Stew
For a wholesome pot and an honest pot
A bowl of Catfish Stew

In an old brown pot you throw the fish
Add mint, basil, berries of red and blue
Young dandelions, fresh rose hips and princess pine
And a dash of ground rock pepper, too
Young dandelions, fresh rose hips and princess pine
And a dash of ground rock pepper, too

Now for the broth you can add some water
But your broth is too thin and clear
So for every cup of water you pour
Pour another pint of beer
So for every cup of water you pour
Pour another pint of beer

And ladies and gentlemen, we’ve only begun
Our bowl is still very plain
Our catfish stew wouldn’t be Catfish Stew at all
Without the flavorful things that remain
Our catfish stew wouldn’t be Catfish Stew at all
Without the flavorful things that remain

But first, if I may refrain,
Do worms feel pain?
Does a worm have a brain?
Is peircing the worm with the hook humane? (ask the worm.)
If you ask the worm, would he tell you the same? (ask the worm.)

Now to the broth add poison oak
And a pinch of jellied toad snout
And as the broth begins to boil
The smell comes wafting out
And as the broth begins to boil
The smell comes wafting out

Add gathered dust from spiders’ webs
Add the ground up molted horn
Simmer these with the naked cobs
That are stripped of all their corn
Simmer these with the naked cobs
That are stripped of all their corn

Add rotten cheese and a sparrow’s nest
And skull marrow of a swine
And as the broth begins to boil
Break apart the catfish spine
And as the broth begins to boil
Break apart the catfish spine

Now take the worm from a house cat’s mouth
You’ll thank me when you’re through
You’ll thank me when you’ve had a bowl
From the pot of Catfish Stew
You’ll thank me when you’ve had a bowl
From the pot of Catfish Stew

Add a billy-goat’s hoof and the hide of a wolf
Stomach of a cow, placenta of a deer
After you add these last to the broth
Pour another round of beer
After you add these last to the broth
Pour another round of beer

And the businessman with his fortunes piled high
The politician, and his air
Toss these in to the Catfish Stew
With a lock of the Poet’s hair
Toss these in to the Catfish Stew
With a lock of the Poet’s hair

Add a lump of cancer, toe- and fingernail clippings
Slugs and bugs, and a handful of dirt
Lung and tongue from a foreign-raised chicken
And an angel with no shirt
Lung and tongue from a foreign-raised chicken
And an angel with no shirt

Add to these the willow leaves
That were cast to all four winds in a gale
And any twin brothers that have talked to the sun
and lived to tell the tale
And any twin brothers that have talked to the sun
and lived to tell the tale

Now stir the pot with a lightning bolt
As she bubbles, yes it’s true
A wholesome pot and a righteous pot
A pot called Catfish Stew
A wholesome pot and a righteous pot
A pot called Catfish Stew

For the catfish swims with majesty
Excellence, strength and glory, his virtue
And all are glad and proud to have supp’ed
Upon the Catfish Stew
And all are glad and proud to have supp’ed
Upon the Catfish Stew

So this concludes our recipe
It’s time we bid adieu
For to go and fetch another bowl
From the pot of Catfish Stew
For to go and fetch another bowl
From the pot of Catfish Stew

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