The Deth O' Cuckoo Jack

First Air-"Chant."

In wor celebrated metropolis o' the north, Newcastle upon-Tyne,
A scullorsman leev'd, ca'd Cuckoo Jack, a genus o' the grapplin line.
The soorce o' Coaly Tynbe an' all its curose channels well he knew,
So local fame suin crooned the nyem o' famous aud "Cuckoo."
His skill was greet in bringing up the deed, still what mair odd is,
'Tis said he little cared for sowls, so he but got the bodies;
But noo aw'll end this little rhyme, to chant his dyin' strain,
Confident that and Cuckoo's like we'll niver see again.

Second Air- "Poor Mary Anne."

November winds blaw cawd, maw hinny!
Deeth follows on mee track;
The fall'n snaws will shrood me hinny,
Thou's loosin' Cuckoo Jack.

Ta, ta, ti pay; ta, ta, ti penshin; maw ill deeds, nibors, niver mention,
But elways speak wi' gud intenshin 'boot poor aud Cuckoo Jack.

Third Air-"Keel Row."

Fareweel tiv a' me cronies, Keeside and Sandgate Jonies,
For aikin ivery bone is, I' this aud skin o' mine.
Deed bodies frae the river aw've often tyun oot cliver,
Maw equal ther wes niver for graplin Coaly Tyne.

Forth Air- "Down among the Dead men."

Luika here, luika here,doon belaw, doon belaw,
Pull away, lads, pull away, lads, aw've huiked him-
(less jaw!)
This chep meyeks a hundred and siventy-nine
Deed bodies aw've fund in the Coaly Tyne.

Aw's gannin noo, so frinds, good-bye-
Doon amang the scullormen, doon amang the scullormen,
Doon, doon, doon, doon, doon amang the scullormen
Let Cuckoo lie.
Aw mun rest wi' the rest that aw fund for my fee,
An' aw hope that aud Nick winnet grapple for me;
Let maw eppytaff be, "Here lies on his back
The chep that fund the droon'd men, Cuckoo Jack."

Aw's gannin noo, etc.
Corvan, 1862.



John Wilson (better known by the more familiar cognomen of "Cuckoo Jack," which he derived from his father, who made "Cuckoo" clocks), noted for his skill in recovering the bodies of the drowned, died December 2nd, 1860, aged 68.