PEDRO THE FISHERMAN



Pedro, The Fisherman
from "The Lisbon Story"
Words: Harold Purcell
Music: Harry Parr Davies

Recorded by: 
Richard Tauber, Gracie Fields, Julie Andrews - others...

Pedro the fisherman was always whistling such a merry call;
Girls who were passing by would hear him whistling by the harbour wall.
But his sweetheart, Nina, who loved him true, always knew
That his song belonged to her alone.
And in the evening when the lights were gleaming and they had to part,
As he sailed his boat away, echoing across the bay, 
Came the tune that lingered in her heart.

But days of dreaming quickly pass and life goes rushing on,
And one day from the harbour wall she found his boat had gone. 
He'd sailed away to find the gold the sea could never bring
To buy a dress, a cuckoo clock, a saucepan and a ring.
She kept her eyes on the blue horizon, but he didn't return.
She stopped her sighing and left off crying but he didn't return.

One day her father said to her "Oh dearest daughter mine,
You'll never make a lot from fish, you make much more from wine.
Tho' Miguel is rather fat, his vineyard's doing well; 
So marry him and let your dreams of Pedro go to hell."
The organ peals, the choir boys sing, 
The priest is ready with the book and ring;
So small and white here comes the bride
And stands by the swarthy Miguel's side.

(Spoken:) 
Will you have this man to be your lawful wedded spouse eternally?
And suddenly the church is still; they wait to hear her say "I will";
When through the open doorway there a far off sound disturbs the air -

(Main tune is now whistled)
Suddenly she found her man; from the church out she ran,
There he was upon the harbour wall.
Down rushed the wedding guests upon the quayside, but the bride had gone.
As with love she sailed away, echoing across the bay,
Came the happy ending to her song.

Copyright 1943:
Chappell & Co
50 New Bond Street
London W1
London W1




(Contributed by  - November 2010)