I've done preliminary harvesting of the versions posted by Jeri and Malcolm. Is the version in the Digital Tradition an accurate transcription of the Sandy Paton recording, even though Sandy may now disavow is as a youthful indiscretion? Should the DT version be dumped as totally incorrect and worthless?
What should be submitted to the DT as "definitive"?
-Joe Offer-

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Here is the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index, which isn't very helpful:

Byker Hill

DESCRIPTION: Dance tune with sketchy narrative; singer's wife sits up late drinking. Singer asks her to return home (bringing the beer). He also tells of working in Walker Pit and the poor wages for coal-cutters, singing ironically "Walker Pit's done well by me."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1812 (John Bell, "Rhymes of Northern Bards")
LONG DESCRIPTION: Usually a dance tune (in 2-2-2-3 time!), but with sketchy narrative; singer's wife sits up late drinking, neglecting home and family. Singer pleads with her to return home (but to bring the beer with her). He also tells of working in Walker Pit and the poor wages for coal-cutters, singing ironically "Walker Pit's done well by me," and a verse of "Geordie Charlton he had a pig/He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig"
KEYWORDS: mining work drink wife worker
FOUND IN: Britain(England(North))
REFERENCES (1 citation):
DT, BYKERHIL*
Roud #3488
RECORDINGS:
A. L. Lloyd, "Walker Shore and Byker Hill" (on Lloyd1); "Walker Hill and Byker Shore" (on Lloyd3)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up" (tune)
cf. "Elslie Marley" (tune)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
File: DTbykerh

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