Listen to the Song – The Lost River King – The Burbot
The complete lyrics are included in the companion book, Our Jewels in the Water, allowing readers to follow every song while learning about Britain’s remarkable freshwater fish.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every species.
The Burbot
The Forgotten King
“Once the silent hunter of Britain’s rivers, the Burbot now survives only in memory, reminding us that every lost species leaves an empty place beneath the water.”
Species Profile
The Burbot (Lota lota) holds a unique place in Britain’s freshwater history. It was the only member of the cod family to live entirely in freshwater and was once found in rivers across eastern England, including the Great Ouse, the Trent and their tributaries.
With its mottled olive-brown body, broad head and single whisker beneath its chin, the Burbot looked unlike any other British freshwater fish.
Unlike most fish, it thrived during the coldest months of the year, becoming most active in winter when many other species slowed down.
Sadly, by the late twentieth century, the Burbot had disappeared from Britain’s rivers and is now regarded as extinct in the wild in the UK.
Clive’s Story
Some fish are remembered for being great sporting fish. Others because they were beautiful.
The Burbot is remembered because it is missing.
Although I never had the opportunity to catch one, I have always found its story fascinating.
To imagine such an unusual fish once swimming in our rivers reminds us how much our waterways have changed over the centuries.
Its disappearance is not just the loss of a species.
It is the loss of a small part of Britain’s natural history.
Natural History
The Burbot preferred slow-flowing rivers, deep pools and cool, well-oxygenated waters.
It was a nocturnal predator, feeding on small fish, crayfish, worms and aquatic insects.
Unlike most freshwater fish, the Burbot spawned during the coldest part of winter, often beneath icy conditions.
Its camouflage allowed it to lie motionless on the riverbed before ambushing unsuspecting prey.
Perfectly adapted to cold water, it struggled as rivers became warmer and habitats changed.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name: Lota lota
- Family: Lotidae (the cod family).
- The only freshwater member of the cod family.
- Habitat: Slow rivers and deep pools.
- Diet: Small fish, crayfish, worms and aquatic insects.
- Spawned during the winter.
- Became extinct in Britain during the twentieth century.
- Still survives in parts of Europe, Asia and North America.
Behind the Song
When writing The Forgotten King, I wanted the music to carry both pride and sadness.
The verses remember a fish that once belonged to Britain’s rivers, while the chorus asks us never to forget what has been lost.
Although the Burbot no longer swims in our waters, its story still has the power to teach us an important lesson.
Protecting today’s fish ensures that tomorrow’s generations do not inherit more stories of disappearance.
Conservation
The story of the Burbot reminds us that extinction is not always something that happens in distant lands.
It can happen in our own rivers.
Improving water quality, restoring natural habitats and protecting freshwater ecosystems helps prevent other native species from following the same path.
Every fish we save today honours those that have already been lost.
Clive’s Reflection
The Burbot asks us a simple question.
What is a river without all the creatures that once called it home?
Its disappearance reminds us that conservation is not simply about protecting what remains.
It is also about remembering what has already gone.
If the story of the Burbot encourages even one person to care more deeply about Britain’s rivers, then its legacy will continue to live on.
That is why, to me, the Burbot will always be The Forgotten King.
“A forgotten river remembers every fish that once swam within its currents.”
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