Sir Tommy Made an Odd Fellow
A Provincial and very popular Song.

I've sung o' Newcassel till black o' the fyess,
Tyne's Muse is as modest as ony;
Tho' oft she comes out in a comical dress--
Here she goes for a lilt at Sir Tommy.
Ye've seen him,nae doubt, wi' his hat on ten hairs,
Then he cuts sic a wonderful caper;
He has long been thought odd, for his kickmashaw airs,
Now he's odd baith by name and by nature.

Chorus:

Let Fame canter on till she's sair i' the hips,
Proclaiming, frae Tynemouth to Stella,
How the sun, moon, and stars a' went into the 'clipse,
When Sir Tommy was made an Odd Fellow.

There's scarce sic a man in a' Newcassel toon,
With the famous Tyne Legion outsetting:
Down at Shields in a fray, they pick'd up sic renoon,
That his nyem will nae mair be forgetten.
Tho' envious at valour, yet a' look asquint,
What heroes in fame e'er surpass'd them?
Wi' Sir Tommy before, and the sailors behint,
It was run! and the devil take the last one.

A Knight he was dubb'd for sic sarvices brave,
But a Knight without fee is but little;
So they sent him to govern* where folks rant and rave,
A station he fit to a tittle.
Grand Master of Orangemen next he was call'd,
Bells rung till the toon was a' quaking;
Now most Noble Grand of Odd Fellows install'd--
Faicks! it's time a straight-jacket was making.

That Sir Tommy has wit I wad fain here convince,
He can myek sic athumping oration,
By which he astonish'd the Legion lang since,
Now he wants to astonish the nation.
By humbug reduc'd, though his head's very lang,
His brains scarce wad balance a feather:
But just nominate him a Parliament man**
Head and brains will take flight a' thegither.

O sons o' Newcassel! free Burgesses a'
Ne'er be tempted your freedom to barter;
May they hing in tatters to frighten the craws,
If ye budge but an inch frae your Charter.
If ye sendup Sir Tommy to London, M.P.
I' the Parliament house to be seated,
Ye may just as weel send Captain Starkey*** up tee,
Your glory will then be completed.

*Governor General of Lunatic House.

** It was reported in the London Papers, that Sir T. B. intended
putting up as a Candidate to serve Newcastle in Parliament.

***An eccentric character well known in Newcastle.
 

R. Glichrist -In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce
Newcastle Upon Tyne.