Funny, I always assumed this was an Irish song, probably because the only person I ever heard sing it was Tom Dahill, an Irish-American folkie. I just learned it's really Geordie.

There is a plain English version in the DT: CUSHIE BUTTERFIELD.

These lyrics are from Songs of the British Music Hall by Peter Davison:


CUSHIE BUTTERFIELD
Words, George Ridley, published 1873.
Music, "Pretty Polly Perkins" by Harry Clifton, 1864.

1. Aa's a broken-hairted keelman and Aa's ower heed in luv
Wiv a young lass in Gyetsid and Aa caall her me duv.
Hor nyem's Cushie Butterfield and she sells yalla clay,
And her cousin is a muck-man and they caall 'im Tom Gray.

CHORUS: She's a big lass an' a bonnie lass an' she likes her beor,
An' they caall her Cushie Butterfield an' Aa wish she was heor.

2. Hor eyes is like two holes in a blanket burnt throo,
An' hor broos iv a mornin' wad spyen a yung coo;
An' when Aa heer hor shoutin'—"Will ye buy ony clay?"
Like a candyman's trumpet, it steals me yung hart away.

3. Ye'll oft see hor doon at Sangit when the fresh harrin comes in.
She's like a bagfull o' saadust tied roond wiv a string.
She weers big galoshes tee, an' hor stockins once was white,
An' hor bedgoon it's laelock, an' hor hat's nivver strite.

4. When Aa axed hor te marry us, she started te laff,
"Noo, nyen o' you monkey tricks for Aa like nee sic chaff."
Then she started a' blubbin' an' roared like a bull,
An' the cheps on the keel ses Aa's nowt but a fyuel.

5. She ses, "The chep 'et gets us 'ill heh te work ivvery day,
An' when he comes hyem at neets, he'll heh to gan an' seek clay.
An' when he's away seekin't Aa'll myek baals an' sing,
O weel may the keel row that ma laddie's in."


[p.s. What was yellow clay used for?]