Blackett's Field
Tune- John Anderson my Jo
 

Near Blackett's Field, sad hov'ring,
('Twas but the other day,)
Thus sung a melancholy wight
His pitty-moving lay:--
How comes this alteration strange!
What can the matter be,
That the brave Association Lads
Are under lock and key?

Ah! lately, on a Sunday,
To dine I hardly staid--
But from my beef and pudding ran,
T' attend the gay parade!
Now I may stay and pick my bones,
Fron anxious hurry free;
For the brave Association Lads
Are under lock and key!

A dimpling smile still grac'd my cheek,
Brave D***n when I saw;
'Twas worth a crown to hear him, too,
Exclaiming Kiver awa!
But thus to feast my eyes and ears'
No more my lot shall be
For the brave Assocaition Lads
Are under lock and key!

To church, now, when the bells are heard,
With snail-like pace I creep
And there, in manner most devout,
Compose myself to sleep!
Thus cheerless pass the ling'ring hours,
So lately fraught with glee,
Ere the brave Association Lads
Were under lock and key!

For pity's sake, then, Ridley!
Thy turnkeys straight dischargbe,
And let thy armed Patriots
Again be drill'd at large;
So shall my Sunday afternoons,
In gazing, joyous flee,
When the brave Association Lads
Ar'n't under lock and key!

Think--urg'd by curiosity,
To climb the Spital walls,
Should any of thy neighbours there,
Sad, break their necks by falls,
O would not such mischances dire
Be justly charg'd on thee,
Who keeps the Association Lads
Thus underlock and key?

Imagine not thy warriors brave,
To glory who aspire,
Whilst thus confin'd in Blackett's field,
Their station much admire!
Ah! no; in Heaton cellars they
Would rather chuse  to be,
Most jovial, carrying on the war,
All under lock and key!

Whilst War's horrific clangours
Resound throughout the land,
Still may'st thou, galland Ridley,
Thy town's-men brave command:
And, oh! that with your martial toils
Delighted I may be,
Ope wide the door of Blackett's field;
Then break the lock and key!

-J. Shield of Newcastle, in Bell. Because of the
confined limits of the parade ground of the Loyal Newcastle
Associated Corps of Volunteer Infantry
it was found necessary to lock the door during time of
drill to prevent the crowd interfering with the evolutions of the
corps.