An early source for the lyrics, Joseph Robson's "Songs of the bards of the Tyne",[1] published 1849, can be found on the FARNE archive.
It was popularised as the theme tune of the 1970s BBC drama serial When The Boat Comes In, in an arrangement by the composer David Fanshawe.
The theme of the TV series of the same name, sung by Alex Glasgow, was released as a BBC single and uses the traditional lyrics.
The songs represent a boy waiting for the boat to come in, dancing to his father, singing to his mother, eating a fish.
This version was also used in a TV advertisement for Young's Seafood "Sea to Plate" campaign, and used the same lyrics as The Wiggles.