
Jim Wearne Cornish American Singer-Songwriter
Mushy Peas
Jim Wearne copyright 2005
On a trip to old Great Britain
I once was rather smitten
By something on the local bill of fare
They call it fish and chips
And once it passed my lips
I won’t be happy till I’m over there
In the land that’s known as Kernow
That’s Cornwall no doubt yer know
There’s a little fish and chip shop east of Hayle
With my brother Tom and Harry
Expecting nothing scary
I went in to see what they had for sale
Now Harry he was hip
He said just take my tip
Order just like I do and you’ll see
Well, I went abroad to learn
So when it came my turn
Of course I said just bring the same for me
The waitress brought a platter
Nearly threw it right back at ‘er
So great was my dismay and my surprise
There were chips and there was fish
But right there on the dish
Was the strangest sight that ever met my eyes
Mushy peas, mushy peas
To get ‘em you’ll be begging on your knees
They’re warm and green and gooey
You can’t get ‘em in St Looey
But you ain’t lived till you’ve had mushy peas.
Now Harry, he’s a local
And I felt like a yokel
The way he took that soggy mess in stride
I tucked into my food
Not wanting to be rude
And took a bite of that stuff on the side
I’ve had grits and okra too
If it’s all the same to you
I’ve had sushi and I’ve lived to tell the tale
But I swear by Caesar’s ghost
The thing I love the most
Is that green mush that I first had in Hayle
Mushy peas, mushy peas
To get ‘em you’ll be begging on your knees
They’re warm and green and gooey
You can’t get ‘em in St Looey
But you ain’t lived till you’ve had mushy peas.
I hope you get the chance
To go to Spain or France
And savor all the hash that they sling there
To Kernow then you’ll ramble
And have your chance to samble
The greatest dish that you’ll find anywhere
And as I stand here singing
My taste buds they go winging
Across the sea to good old Kernow’s shore
Of pasties and of cream
Of course I still will dream
But there’s a taste that I crave even more
Mushy peas, mushy peas
To get ‘em you’ll be begging on your knees
They’re warm and green and gooey
You can’t get ‘em in St Looey
But you ain’t lived till you’ve had mushy peas.
Mushy peas, mushy peas
To get ‘em you’ll be begging on your knees
They’re warm and green and gooey
If you hate ‘em then you’re screwy!
You ain’t lived till you’ve had mushy peas.