Leon Rosselson 1999
Rosselson has remarked that the song emerged from a play he'd written, but further details are not known. "The 'I' is not the songwriter; the old man is an imagined character, and Harry may not exist, may never have existed. But maybe sometimes people need a saviour to believe in and Harry, even if he doesn't exist, has got a lot more going for him than, say, the Gospel Jesus."
Nancy Kerr: https://nancykerr.bandcamp.com/track/harrys-gone-fishing
My heart was cold as midnight, my mind was worry worn
As I wondered through the city where William Blake was born
Past huddled shapes in doorways and towers made of glass
Then an old man came towards me and he would not let me pass
The years had withered in his face, was he drunk or in despair?
He led me to a silent street, said “see that waste ground there?
They never should have knocked it down, if only we’d known how
We could’ve stopped them doing it.” I said “it’s too late now”
Chorus 1:
And he said “Harry could’ve done it, ’cause he could put right every wrong
He could turn sighs into silence and silence into song
He could turn frowns into laughter, he could turn lost into found
He could turn wine into water, or is it the other way around?
Yes Harry could’ve done it, and Harry was my pal
But Harry’s gone fishing in the paradise canal”
He said “you see that pile of rubble with the barbed wire all around
That used to be our local now it’s a battle ground”
He said “I’ve lived my life here in this god forsaken street
That pub was our one bit of hope it’s where we used to meet
Now they want to build an office block with a car park there as well
A tarty supermarket; I hope they rot in hell
They say it will improve the place but it won’t do much for me
What I need is a bit of beach and the salt wind from the sea”
Chorus 2:
And he said “Harry could’ve done it, ’cause he’d have made it turn out right
He could turn the lonely into fighters and the mighty into blight
He could turn saints into sinners he could turn ashes into sparks
And he could turn the tables on the bankers and the sharks
Yes Harry could’ve done it, and Harry was my pal
But Harry’s gone fishing in the paradise canal
They say it will improve the place well nobody asked me
What I want is a bit of beach and the sunlight on the sea
A lovely stretch of sand where me and all my mates can meet
With gentle waves to paddle in and wash our tired feet
And we’ll stretch out on our deckchairs, let the sunshine soothe our pain
And we’ll make the high and mighty serve us winkles and champagne
It isn’t very much too ask; I’ll be a long time dead
Do you think you could arrange that?” I laughed and shook my head
Chorus 3:
And he said “Harry could’ve done it. ’cause he was always on our side
He could turn Punch and Judy into Bonnie and Clyde
He could turn shalt not into why not, he could turn is into seems
He could turn armies into forests and darkness into dreams
And it would turn your blood to fire when it was Harry’s turn to speak
But one thing he would never do is turn the other cheek”
So I left him in that silent street, an old man lost in space
His wild-eyed delusions dancing on his wizened face
And I walked on through that city with it’s temples made of brass
Then a great crowd swept towards me and they would not let me pass
The hungry and the homeless, downtrodden and distressed
A wretched ragged rabble of the outcast and oppressed
The unwashed and the unwanted on whom the sun has never shone
And the banners they were waving said “Harry lives on”
Chorus 4:
And they sang “Harry’s gone fishing, but he will turn up by and by
When a Saman sun rises in a bright morning sky
And he’ll turn shalt not in to why not, he’ll turn is into seems
He’ll turn armies into forests and darkness into dreams
He’ll turn saints into sinners, he’ll turn ashes into sparks
And he will turn the tables on the bankers and the sharks
He’ll turn frowns into laughter, he’ll turn lost into found
He’ll turn wine into water – no wait; the other way around
And the rich shall wear the saddle and the poor shall wear the crown
When Harry rises up and turns the world upside downÂ