The Fish-Wives' Complaint
On their Removal from the Sandhill to the New Fish Market, on the 2nd of January 1826

The merry day hez getten past,
And we are aw myest broken hearted:
Ye've surely deun for us at last--
Frae Sandhill, noo, ye hev us parted.

Chorus-
Oh! hinnies, Corporation!
A! marcy, Corporation!
Ye hev deun a shemful deed,
To force us frae wer canny station.

It's nee use being iv a rage,
For a' wor pride noo fairly sunk is--
Ye've cramm'd us in a Dandy Cage,
Like yell-yowlies, bears, and monkies;

The cau'd East wind blaws i' wor teeth--
With iron bars we are surrounded;
It's better far to suffer deeth,
Than thus to hev wor feelings wounded.

Wor haddocks, turbot, cod, and ling,
Are lost tiv a' wor friends inspection;
Genteelish folk from us tyek wing,
for fear of catching some infection.

O, kind Sir Matt,-- ye bonny Star,
Gan to the King, and show this ditty--
Tell him what canny folks we are,
And make him free us frae this Kitty.

If ye succeed, agyen we'll sing--
Sweet Madge, wor Queen, will ever bless ye;
And pour au'd Jemmy tee, wor King,
with a' us fish-wives shall caress ye.
 

-In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce
Newcastle Upon Tyne.