A Day's Fishing at Harrogate

I went to good old Harrogate last Autumn for the Cure,
While I was there I thought I'd try some fishing in the Ure
So off I started early, as the day was nice and fine,
And I took a nice big basket and I took my rod and line
To get my things in order took me twenty minutes quite,
And then I waited half–an.–hour before I had a bite,
I got a bite all right–it was the farmer's dog, I found,
You couldn't blame the dog for I was on forbidden ground.

Chorus.
I shan't forget my fishing day at Harrogate,
The people gathered round to have a look,
The fish were simply great,
But they wouldn't take the bait,
They took a glance at me, then took their hook.
A friend had told me sport was good when fishing in the Ure.
Well, I was there for many hours, but I am not so sure,
I kept on pulling up the line, impatient for a catch,
But all my efforts were in vain, they wouldn't come to scratch ;
At last the line got twisted, and I found out with a frown,
The hook was through my trousers in the part where I sift down,
I really got disheartened, and the times seemed out of joint,
I like a joke, but 'pon my word, I couldn't see the point.

Chorus.
I shan't forget my fishing day at Harrogate,
Talk about a pleasant day of sport,
I caught a touch of "Flu,"
And I don't mind telling you
That was absolutely everything I caught.
The sun was setting sadly, as per usual, in the West,
As beside the gurgling, blithering, brook I sat,
Although to get some specimens I'd done my level best
I hadn't caught a "tiddler" or a sprat.
I thought I'd have a snack, before I started homeward bound,
And I settled down, my bit of food to try,
I looked inside the basket, and I fainted when I found
That the worms had had my steak and kidney pie.

Chorus.
I shan't forget my fishing day at Harrogate,
It was a disappointment keen to me,
But I said, "I won't be done, I'll look after Number One."
So I took a shilling haddock home for tea.