Hi,

Jim Dixon above has the definition of foyboatman so good that I can'timprove on it but what I can do is tell you that a song called . something like Foyboat man on the river was written and performed by a lad called Martin Nesbitt. It used to be one of his party pieces I have just googled his name and he is first on the list. Almost certainly the river is the Tees not the Tyne

Anyway good luck Ihope its the right song

Fantum