Voices from the Past: Comrade Mine (1899)

I thought this reworking of the old standard "Baby Mine" was clever and moving. Sam Sum is the pseudonym of a famous writer (Kit Clarke?) but it escapes me right now who it is. This was published in The American Angler in 1899.


Comrade Mine
(May be sung to the tune of "Baby Mine")

by Sam Sum

There are weakfish in the bay,
Comrade mine;
And 'tis said they're there to stay,
Comrade mine.

They are ravenous as hounds,
So, in spite of fykes and pounds,
We may find then on their "grounds,"
Comrade mine.

They get scarcer every year,
Comrade mine;
But whenever they appear,
Comrade mine,
We slip our business tether,
Get our fishing "traps" together,
Then we diagnose the weather,
Comrade mine.

You and I have had our share,
Comrade mine,
Of the fishing bill-of-fare,
Comrade mine.
There was never any doubt,
If the crabs and shrimp held out,
But we'd get our share of "trout,"
Comrade mine.

A day will come, I know,
Comrade mine,
When the tide will ebb and flow,
Comrade mine,
And some other hand will guide
The craft in which we ride;
We'll be on the "other side,"
Comrade mine.

Still, as long as water's wet,
Comrade mine,
And an outing we can get,
Comrade mine,
You and I will make a date,
And we'll cast our "shedder' bait,
Where the weakfish congregate,
Comrade mine.

-- Dr. Todd