YE NIVVOR THINK THAT MIGHT BE YE!

TEUN- "The Time that me Fethur wes bad."

WHEN ye read i' the papers each morn,
Ov sum most unfortunate case,
Where poor fellows meet, throo the drink,
Thor deeth i' sum cot-the-way place;
It's unheeded, passed ower, forgot,
It's sumthingse common te see;
An' ye nivvor imagine such-like
Might just as seun happen te ye.

No, ye nivvor think that might been ye,
Yor reckoned a real stiddy man,
But ye might get a drop ower much
Te drink nyen at a's the best plan!
Wi' yor senses aboot ye se clear,
Yor footsteps is sure, safe, an' soond:
If the river cud speak, it wad say,
"Thor's seldum Teetotalers drooned !"

Then just think 0' me sang when ye read
The cases yor sartin te see,
An' ye'll find the best pairt's a' throo drink,
Sum accidents efter a spree.
When ye think 0' such untimely deeths,
It's far better te let drink a be,
For it's ne gud te sacrifice life,
That shud always be precious te ye.

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