There have been a number of songs from Joe Wilson posted here today by *#1 Peasant* - great songs, too.
The Digital Tradition entry for Sally Wheatley (click) says the following about Joe:

Though most recordings say that it's traditional (and it's obviously a lot older than Alex Glasgow!), that's not the whole story. The north-eastern singer Bob Fox credits it to Joe Wilson of Newcastle (c.1840-1874), a stage-comedian and
printer of cheap songbooks, who also wrote such songs as No Work and Keep Yor Feet Still, Geordie Hinny. Bob knows his stuff, so I'd take that as definitive.

I believe that the version mostly sung nowadays has changed a bit from the original, though, so it's on its way to being traditional, at any rate. MD



Sally Wheatley is a Joe Wilson song and published in "Bits of Sangs and Homely Stories by Joe Wilson" Published in Newcastle in the late 1880's (I don't have my copy to hand but I will check out the date and publisher). The song also features in the Musical "Joe Lives!" which was written by Alex Glasgow and others hence the association. "Joe Lives" was a project carried out by the Newcastle Playhouse sometime in the mid 70's and recounts the Life of Joe Wilson together with many of his songs and drolleries. Joe was a real 'Character' and
in his time was a publican, a music hall performer and a famous Temperance speaker. PB

Sounds like Joe was a fascinating character. Can anybody tell us more about him?
-Joe Offer-