Dry Land Fish

“Dry Land Fish” is one of many names given Morchella, or true morel mushrooms, throughout the Appalachians. In some parts of Kentucky they’re known as “honey chickens,” “merkels” (or “miracles”) based on the story of a mountain family that was saved from starvation by eating morels. Some folks in West Virginia call them “Molly Moochers.”
The name “Dry Land Fish” came to popular usage because when the mushrooms are cut lengthwise, breaded, and fried the shape resembles a fish.

John: vocal
Finest Kind: harmony vocals
Ian Robb, Shelley Posen, Ann Downey

When the springtime’s here
And the rains come down
Haul away, boys, haul her
Our crew sets out
From Harlan town
We’ll rove the hills and hollers

When the forest floor
Is fertile and moist
Haul away, boys, haul her
The dry land fish
Is the finest choice
We’ll rove the hills and hollers

Chorus
So, haul her in, boys
Haul away
For three shorts months
From March to May
If we miss her
There’s more hell to pay
So grab your poke sacks
Cast your wish
We’ll range these mountains
For the dry land fish

Midst the ash and elm
And the sycamore
Haul away, boys, haul her
Cast your sights
To the forest floor
We’ll rove the hills and hollers

Where the old trees die
And the roots are rotten
Haul away, boys, haul her
That’s where the
Dry land fish are gotten
We’ll rove the hills and hollers Chorus

They poke their heads
Through the moss and sod
Haul away, boys, haul her
There lies the
Dry land fish, by God
We’ll rove the hills and hollers

When our bags
And our trucks are full
Haul away, boys, haul her
We’ll sell ‘em for a fortune
In Louisville
We’ll rove the hills and hollers Chorus

You got your goldenseal
And your ginseng’s fine
Haul away, boys, haul her
For the dry land fish
In the cool springtime
We’ll rove the hills and hollers Chorus

June 11, 2012
Avondale Estates, GA
©2012 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP)