The Blaydon Keelman
Air- Dixeys Land

Oh! lads, aw's turned a keelman noo,
Wi' maw flannin drawers an' stockins blue,
On the Tyne, the Tyne, the Tyne.
In Blaydon aw was bred, an' born,
On the New Year's day at morn,
On the Tyne etc.

Chorus-
Aw niver will leave Blaydon, ah, ho! ah, Ho!
For in Blaydon aw was bred an' born,
Aw niver will leave Blaydon, ah ho! ah Ho!
The Blaydon Lads for iver.

Noo there's Bob Chambers an' Harry Clasper.
Ne two in a boat thor can pull faster,
On the Tyne etc.
Then there's Winship an' awd Harry's son Jack,
These fower agyen the world aw'll back.
On the Tyne etc.

We sailed frae Blaydon wi fire bricks loadin,
Smash! aw believe maw feyther's doatin,
On the Tyne etc.
For he ran agrund at Skinners' Burn,
So we lost wor tide an' had te lie till morn,
On the Tyne etc.

Thor's a new steamboat they call'd the Cowan,
For the Tyne Commissioners ye'll find her towin,
On the Tyne etc...
She's always towin ballast keels,
Loaded wi' the dredger doon at Sheels,
On the Tyne etc.

Noo aw've joined the Blaydon rifle cor,
Ti guard wor canny Tyneside shore,
On the Tyne, etc..
Wi' Armstrang's guns we'll lick them bonny,
An' wor heed commander's coffee Johnny,
On the Tyne etc...

Noo maw wife leef'd servant at Blaydon Burn,
Aw married her at Whickham church one morn,
On the Tyne etc.
In Robson Street we leeve tigether,
Aw work in the keel alang win her feythere,
On the Tyne etc...

-Geordie Ridley