BONNIE GATESHEAD LASS
(Joe Wilson)

I'll warrant you've never seen me lass 'er name I cannot mention
For fear you'll gan and tell 'er 'ow I like 'er so I do
Well it's just for lads and lasses for to whisper their affection
The bonniest lass in Gateshead's bonnie face has bothered me (x2)

The first time I saw 'er I thought I didn't know her
But I'm sure I'd seen 'er face before I couldn't think of where
'Er eyes met mine in passin' up the High street in the mornin'
And 'er look was so entrancin' that me heart was mine nae mair (x2)

Well I didn't see 'er for a week then one day at the Bridge End
I stamped upon 'er gown and her garters they come away
She told us I was clumsy and I said that I was sorry
I humbly begged 'er pardon I was licked for what to say (x2)

So I walked on by her side just as if I had a right to do
The conversation first was shy but then it turned first class
We walked about the weather and she mentioned that 'er father was
A puddler down at Harkses oh me bonnie Gateshead lass (x2)

She mentioned confidentially that 'er uncle was a grocer
And 'er mother's father's cousin was a fiddler on the shore
She talked so nice and friendly and she looked so sweet and pleasant
I thought I'd never seen a lass so charmin' like before (x2)

She says 'er mother keeps a shop, she sells hot pies and candy
And 'er brother is a cobbler in the high part of the town
Now she was a dressmaker and we got on so well together
I 'm blessed I'd been so awkward as to stand upon 'er gown (x2)

I made 'er laugh and slap me lug talkin' lots of nonsense
But bless it, when you're courtin' there's nowt so good'll pass
I asked 'er if she'd be me lass and I'd tak 'er out on Sundays
And to my delight she says I might me bonnie Gateshead lass (x2)

A song of course from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, taken from Bob Fox and Stu Luckley's version on "Nowt So Good'll Pass". I have sanitized most of the Geordie-isms, so for example the first person "I" really sounds like "ah", and "thought" is more like " thowt", but if you've heard it sung you'll understand all that. (S. W., Brisbane, Aust.)