Subject: Faimed Filly Fair
From:
Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 23 May 00 - 04:03 PM
Famed Filly Fair;
Or, A peep into Pilgrim Street. Come, Geordy, an' aw'll tell ye, lad, wher aw hae been,
In Pilgrim-street, where there's to see an' to be seen,
A great many lasses, and they shew off sic fine airs,
Aw's sure they're all as wild as only March hares. Now, d'ye no-but gan there iv next Sunday neet,
About thetime o' six o'clock, you'll see the fine seet,
A large show of lasses fine, that drive about there,
they nyem'd it but reet when they ga'd Filly Fair. Now, one Sunday neet, to the high town aw went,
That aw might get the evening cannily spent:
Among the rabble, sure enough, aw gat there,
And saw the first dresses in fam'd Filly Fair. there's some lasses, they say, that are so very keen,
That they come to this place just for to be seen;
And, on every wet Sunday, they sit down to prayer,
And think it provoking they're not at the Fair. Aw enter'd the street with a great deal of glee,
Where the lads and the lasses in flocks aw did see:
The task wad be endless to tell a' what was there,
Aw mean the fine dresses in fam'd filly Fair. Aw look'd about all these fine dresses to see,
Aw glowr'd at the lasses, and they glowr'd at me:
So now for a description, I will give to a hair,
Of all the fine things in this fam'd Filly Fair. There was white gowns, silk spenceers, and flounces galore,
And queer monkey jackets aw'd ne'er seen before;
With little drakes tails, that hing from the hair,
And large ringlets a' curl'd was in fam'd Filly Fair. The spencers a' carv'd, wye, with cords of a' kind,
That seem'd just like soulgers afore and behind;
And black silks, and stript silks, and a' silks was there,
And pads, and cat backs were in fam'd Filly Fair. There was hats like my awn, with fine flee-behint cloaks,
And queer things ahint them, like the pitmen's bait pokes;
And hats myed of muslin, to let in the air,
Besides some wi' high crowns were in fam'd Filly Fair. The hats were deck'd o'er a' with ribbons andlace,
And large cabbae nets were thrown o'er their faee:
Paddysoles too were there, as were monie things mair,
And fine mobbed caps were in fam'd Filly Fair. Therre was scarfs of a' kinds, and of every degree;
And little wee bairneys, scarce up to my knee;
With beaux, arm in arm, they were driving thro' there,
'Twas shameful to see them in fam'd Filly Fair. O, mun! just like a loadstone in this curious place,
For what I hev tell'd yoiu, aw'm sure it's the case--
It's the case of them all that walk about there,
To be talk'd of by strangers in fam'd Filly Fair. And besides a' the tricks that I cannot explain,
For this kind of rambling I'm sure I disdain;
Take advice, my good lasses, and don't wander there,
Or your character's stain'd by walking the Fair. This advice now, I hope, you will readily take,
And keep up your character, for your own sake;
It's nought unto me if all night you walk there,
But your name will be blasted by attending theFair. -In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce
Newcastle Upon Tyne.
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