It's a lovely little song, isn't it? A beaut tune too. I have not heard the Eliza Carthy CD, so I don't know if this is the version you want. I have transcibed this from an old Danny Spooner record. Given Danny's cockney accent on top of the northeast dialect, it wasna easy – but I reckon I have gotten it fairly right. Anyhow it's my best shot. Perhaps Graham can correct the mistakes.

Cheers, Stewie.

FELTON LONNIN

O the kye cam y'ame but I saw not me hinny
O the kye cam y'ame but I saw not me bairn
And I'd rather lost all the kye than lost me hinny
I'd rather lost all the kye than lost me bairn

Fair faced is me hinny and his blues eyes are shinin'
His hair hung in ringlets all sweet to me sight
So mount the old pony and gar and seek after him
And bring to his mummy her only delight

And he's always out roamin' the long summer day through
He's always out roamin' away from the farm
O'er hedges and ditches and valleys and fellside
I hope that me bairnie hae cam to no harm

For I've searched in the meadow and in the four acre
And stock yards and fowl yards but nought did I find
So come along daddy and seek for your laddie
And bring to his mummy some peace to her mind

Traditional English

Source: Danny Spooner and Mick Farrell 'Limbo and Other Songs and Places' Anthology AR 003