Some people reckon that Ned Corvan's song was based on a rumour that was brought about as a result of early 19th century competition between the North and South side of Hartlepool as to who would get the railway connection. One side slurred the others by saying "Do you know they're so thick they hung a monkey?..." etc. Corvan just tapped into this - and apparently performed the song in Hartlepool! Further twist to the story is that the folk of Hartlepool have a sense of humour - a few years back they voted in the football mascot monkey as their mayor.