Thanks for the link to the soundtrack ad. Anyone who saw the play or thought this was a trad song might be interested I have been unravelling it a bit
The words go as follows:
I went down to dig some taties
Dig some taties for me tea
I tripped up and dropped me bucket
Deckie lad come a-kissing me

My mother said if I marry a deckie
He will surely break my heart
I don't care what me mother tells me
I'll have a deckie for my sweetheart

Scarborough lads earn gold and silver
Whitby lads earn nowt but brass
Filey lads are ne'er so choosy
They'll go a-courting with yon owner's lass

Tell me skipper is it right
Oh tell me skipper is it true
You're not going out tonight
'Cos no bugger wants to sail with you

Further information from Chris Coe:
The original was about a collier lad. The last verse comes from a different song in order to suit the story of the play (I thought it didn't follow on), while the action of the play was tailored to suit the song (Jo dropping her potatoes) The line about the owner's lass which someone commented on earlier is in fact probably a bit of John Tams tinkering
Thank you, I'll go away again now
Jennifer
www.johntams.info