You Aint A Nova Scotian If You Dont Like Fish
View chords used in this chart
[Verso 1]
D Bm Em A7
You can tell a Nova Scotian by the fragrance of the ocean,
D Bm Em A7
For they always wear the perfume of the North Atlantic spray
D G E7
But if you can't seem to smell 'em, There's another way to tell 'em
A Gdim D
For you'll always know a Bluenose by his diet right away!
(spoken) What do we eat? We eat:
[Refrão]
D Bm
Pickled herrin', oysters when we're daring.
E7 A A7
And we often take a bake of hake 'cause that's a dandy dish!
D G
To make chowder fit for dolphins, throw in everything but sculpins
A Gdim D
And you ain't a Nova Scotian if you don't like fish!
[Verso 2]
D Bm Em A7
What we eats, until we're bustin' most Albertans find disgustin'.
D Bm Em A7
For it seems salt cod's upsettin' to that dainty western tongue.
D G E7
And with faces hard and stony, they say "Herrin's too durn boney"
A Gdim D
But there's nothing for dissolving bones like Nova Scotian rum.
(spoken) and so we eat:
[Refrão]
D Bm
Cod cheeks, cod tongues, even though they're odd tongues
E7 A A7
Fish sticks and digby chicks as dainty as you wish.
D G E7
We eat flat fish, like the flounder and some others that are rounder
A Gdim D
And you ain't a Nova Scotian if you don't like fish!
[Verso 3]
D Bm Em A7
You won't find no haddock fillets in them Manitoba skillets
D Bm Em A7
And away out in Saskatchewan they don't know fish from beans
D G E7
Down in Red River Valley they can't tell scallops from tomally
A Gdim D
And you'll get no clams or salmon with your dandelion greens.
(spoken) Meanwhile, were eatin:
[Refrão]
D Bm
Finnan haddie, good for lass or laddie and
E7 A A7
A smoked eel will make you feel like dancin' just a tish
D G E7
We cook up Solomon Gundy twenty seven ways from Sunday
A Gdim D
And you ain't a Nova Scotian if you don't like fish!
[Verso 4]
D Bm Em A7
Now lest there be a mix-up there's just one thing I should fix up
D Bm Em A7
For there's some that can't tell us from Newfoundlanders tried and true;
D G E7
We eat hake and cod and kippers, but we don't eat seal flippers
A Gdim D
And that's how you tell the difference, 'cause the Newfoundlanders do!
(spoken) We just eat:
[Refrão]
D Bm
Mackerel, pollock they never give you colic
E7 A A7
If you wash down your tuna with a little drink of swish
D G E7
We love a mess of shad roe, sardines and gaspereau
A
And you ain't a Nova Scotian (by the Holy land o' Goshen)
A Gdim D
And you've never seen the ocean if you don't like fish!
How to play You Aint A Nova Scotian If You Dont Like Fish
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.