Can Anyone Help with a Canadian or Scottish Folk Song about Lobster Pots and the Rolling Sea?
May 2nd, 2011

Jane Miller wrote to me from a library in Canada asking for help with a song. Here’s her email:

Dear Lisa

We have had an inquiry on the following folk song. Our inquirer’s mother sang it to him in the 1930’s. She emigrated to Canada from Scotland aged 10, so he thinks the song could be either Canadian (she went to Saskatchewan) or Scottish.

In my internet searching, I came across your web site, so was wondering if it rang any bells?

As I went rolling, strolling, rolling
Over the rolling sea
I put three shots
In their lobster pots
So they won’t frighten me

I … put three shots
In their lobster pots
So they won’t frighten me.

Regards and grateful for any assistance you are able to give.
Jane Miller
Arts Team
State Library of Victoria

If anyone can help with this song, please comment below.

Thanks in advance!

Mama Lisa

This article was posted on Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm and is filed under Canada, Canadian Children's Songs, Canadian Folk Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Folk Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, Scotland, Scottish, Scottish Children's Songs, Scottish Folk Songs, United Kingdom, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

6 Responses to “Can Anyone Help with a Canadian or Scottish Folk Song about Lobster Pots and the Rolling Sea?”

  1. Helen Says:
    July 31st, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    My father used to sing this song to me – I’ve been searching for all the words forever.

    This verse follows an en counter with 3 witches

    I went strolling, down by the rolling
    Down by the rolling sea
    I put three shots In their lobster pots
    So they won’t ever frighten me

    This verse follows meeting 3 lovely ladies

    I went strolling down by the rolling,
    Down by the rolling sea.
    If you can’t be true to one or two.
    You’re much better off with three

    These are chorus versees I believe.

  2. John Says:
    May 28th, 2013 at 8:22 pm

    My father sang this song it is an opera aria called Three for Jack. I found an MP3 version on Amazon sung by Richard Bonelli (Dad was better:))

  3. Chris Bruer Says:
    December 22nd, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Hey guys, I know it’s been a while, but I was searching for this same song and came across the original song from 1904.

    http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9001832?selectedversion=NBD22069527

    Enjoy!

  4. Lisa Says:
    December 23rd, 2015 at 12:12 am

    Here’s a score.

  5. Julie Briggs Says:
    January 16th, 2021 at 11:20 am

    Yes. Three for Jack.
    There are three verses as others have said.

    As I went down to the rolling sea,
    I saw three maidens waiting for me —- forgotten the rest

    As I went down to the rolling sea
    I saw three witches waiting for me
    The hailed me ha you silly young tar we’ll send you down where the fishies are
    Said I come aghast if that’s your game let’s see if three can’t play the same!
    We went rollin etc etc

    I might have this a bit muddled. My dad sang it me and siblings and has written it down for me but can’t find it atm.

  6. Valerie Fouladian Says:
    January 15th, 2022 at 7:45 pm

    My Grandpa had a different version he sang to me.
    As I went strolling, down by the bowling, down by the rolling sea,
    I put three shots in the lobster pots, now they won’t bother me.
    That was the only part he sang, no other verses.

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