RENFORTH, THE CHAMPEIN.
-BY
JOE wILSON

TEUN-" the Postman's Knock."

TYNESIDE'S lang been fam'd for producin greet men,
Luck at Airmstrang an' Stivvison, tee,
An' Grainger that myed wor fine toon what it is,
An' its bildins thor grand ye'll agree;
But the bildin 0' boats an' boat pullin's wor pride,
An' where, always we try hard te shine,
An' Renforth, a brave hardy Son 0' the North's
Browt the Champeinship back te the Tyne,

Korus.

Then lang may success an' gud hilth combine
Wi' Renforth, the Champein 0' Thames an' the Tyne.

We lost poor Bob Chambers, then sadly we greev'd,
Thor wes nyen but what liked Honest Bob,
An' we sigh'd for anuther te fillup he's place,
Tho' we knew twes a difficult job,
Till Renforth com oot like the man that he is,
For the honour 0' canny Tyneside,
An' te stop him frae tyekin Bob Chambers's place,
The whole world he bravely defied!

Then a challinse wes sent, an' a match thor wes myed
Wi' the best Lundun Champein thor's been,
That's brave Harry Kelley, the Pride 0' the Thames,
An' a finer race nivor wes seen;
For wi' confidence pictor'd on each manly broo,
The North an' the South meet agyen,
Thor ready!-thor offl-then the struggle begins,
As the crood roar an' cheer for thor men.

Incorridg'd be cheers frae thor frinds all aroond,
Thor byeth strivin hard for the leed,
An' then the North Countrymen shoot wi' delight,
As they see thor pet forgin aheed,
Tho Kelley, as game as man ivor can be,
Spurts hard te catch Jimmy, but nay!
The Tynesider's there wi' byeth corridge an' skill,
Ay, an' strength tee te leed a' the way.

The Champeinship's wun, an' it's browt te the Tyne,
A river myed famous wi' men
Like Chambers, the Claspers, Bob Cooper, besides
Jimmy Taylor, an' Perey,-so then
Gud luck te Jim Renforth, lang may he maintain
The honour he noo hauds wi' pride;
An' gud luek tiv his trainer, Jim Taylor, as weel,
An' the boat-pullers a' roond Tyneside !

-Source: Joe Wilson,(author) Songs and Drolleries, 1890