THE CHAMPEIN OF ALL CHAMPEINS

AS SUNG BY THE AUTHOR IN THE MUSIC HALLS

TEUN-" Babylon is Falling."

l' THE bloom 0' life he left us,
Wi' thowts 0' nowt.but vict'ry,
He cross'd the greet Atlantic wiv his crew;
Nivvor dreamin 0' misfortin,
Till Deeth's dreed visitation
Struck helpless the grand fellow that we knew.

Korus

Gyen frae the hyern we knaw he liked ee weel!
Gyen frae the frinds that held him ivor dear!
We've lost poor Jimmy Renforth,
The Champein ov all Champeins,
The hero of all rivers, far an' near.
Wiva crew byeth brave an' manly,

The frinds that he had fancied,
He started on a journey myed te pain,
An' bring sorrow, sad an' weary,
Te hearts that least expected
They'd hear a bard gie vent i' mournful strain.
Gyen frae the hyem, etc.

Oh! Jim, what myed ye leave us?
What myed ye leave the Tyneside
Te meet yor deeth se sadly, far away?
An' hearts wes fairly broken,
Te hear thor gallant Champein,
l' Harry Kelley's airms, se lifeless lay.
Gyen frae the hyem, etc.

Ye cruel Atlantic Cable,
What fearful news ye browt us,
What different tidings we expected here;
Till dismay'd an' affected,
We heard a fearful whisper
Run throo the toon like leetnin, far an' near.
Gyen frae the hyem, etc.



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