Mr Gaffer's Bait,
from The Bonnie Pit Laddie (Topic 2-12TS271/2), 1975

Here, proving that tragedy in the pit does not necessarily involve loss of life is another song of Johnny Handle's. The "gaffer" involved, Mr Dixon now Councillor Dixon, unfortunately suffered further indignity as he was in the audience one night at a High Level Ranters' concert when Johnny, unwitting of his presence, sang the song to him!

Listen to mi story and a tale Aa'll relate,
About the adventures of my gaffer's bait.
He'd forgetten his bait bag and he'd given it to me,
There was two home made tea-cakes and a big flask of tea.

Now doon in the pit ye'll meet aal kinds of men,
There's queer folk and toonies and ones from the "pen".
They might steal yer watch and yer lowse might be late,
But there's nothing more precious than a miner's own bait.

So knaain' how sacred was this cup of tea,
Aa stowed it away just as safe as could be,
Till when havin' a blaaw doon at fowerteenth west,
Aa sat on mi bait mag and ye'll aall guess the rest.

Ay, Aa put mi hand doon and his flask it was broke,
And mi gaffer turned red and Aa thought he wad choke.
And when we'd turned roond and we'd went on wor way,
Another thing happened for te ruin mi day.

Now, the gaffer, that's Dixon, he stamped on ahead,
When Aa looks at the way and Aa saw something red.
So Aa stopped, rubbed mi eyes and Aa turned aall aroond,
But there lay the gaffer's tea-cakes and jam on the groond.

There was my foor-prints on them there was those of mi mate,
There was nee hope that day for may gaffer's bait.
And as trmblin' Aa told him to miself Aa did pray,
But he made us to suffer he had my bait that day.

So it's all ye young fellows, it's ye that Aa ask,
Just watch what yer deein' if yer given this task.
Ye can rob, ye can steal, ye can ride an hour laze,
But when you're working' for the gaffer, take care of his bait.