OLDHAM ON A SATURDAY NIGHT

TUNE:- "Ax my eye."

  Flare up my hearties, come along,
  Let us go and have a sight
  At all the rigs and bustling throng,
  Of Owdham on a Saturday night.
  Tell our Bill to get him ready,
  I've so much t' do I cannot wait;
  To morn I've got t' go off wi' Neddy,
  So I couldn't like to stop out late.
  

Spoken - Well thou knows, I connot go up th' town, for I ha' not reckoned yet! Where's your Sam workin at now? why he's been doin ot Jones's, but he geet up o'th fuddle last week, un he lost his wheels! Well, we'd best all go up th' town together, un then we con have a regular -

                Flare up my hearties, &c.
  
  So you start up Yorkshire-street,
  And soon get into th' Market-place,
  Some owd shopmate you're sure to meet,
  Which ever way you turn your face.
  Then green-grocers calling, bawling,
  Here's your plumbs and apples good,
  While the lads the girls are mauling,
  And lose their shoes among the mud.

Spoken - Well, I declare, I've lost my shoo through that brazen face pooin at me. Yes, here it is madam, with as much mud in as would fill a cart. Now then for appo pie! Now Mrs. will you want a nice piece o' beef, or good fat mutton to night? What are you axin? six-pence halfpenny, pick where you will, not a nicer bit o' stuff i'th market! Well I'm thinking George, ot we'd better have a tongue for th' dinner to morn; its o great while sin we had any - O what! O great while sin we had anythin else tha meons, for I'm sure I've had thine dingin oway for thirty year; un there's two or three young uns yon, ot con use theirs pratty tidily. So I think if we'n any more tongue ot our house, we shall have a

                Flare up, &c.
  
  Then quack doctors bawling,
  Here's your stuff for coughs and colds;
  Complaints howe'er appalling,
  It cures 'em both young and old.
  Then relations teazing, squeezing,
  Reeling ripe from some dram shop,
  While they're moaxing, hoaxing, coaxing
  You to go and take a drop.

Spoken - Well, what wi' cleanin all day, un carryin this great basket up and down, I feel as if I could do wi' o drop o' summot! Now then, here's your never failing remedy, for coughs, colds, or pains of the stomach, on the lungs or in the head; it will expel the wind, cause free breathing; it will cure a bilious or nervous disorder, and will totally eradicate the spleen, the cholic, the skyrus, the cancer and the cholaramorbus; it cures all consumption, serious fits and sudden faintings; it will take the nausea out of your mouth, and leave behind a most pleasant flavour: all for the small charge of one penny; and if it does not give you relief in a few minutes, I will return you ten times the money. Just take one penny-worth, it will make you -

                Flare up my hearties, &c.
  
  The public house you go into,
  And think to get a quiet gill,
  But there the hawkers follow you,
  The door is not a minute still;
  Some wi' nuts and cakes a selling,
  With braces, laces half a score,
  'Till the landlord comes a telling
  You that he will fill no more.

Spoken - Will you buy a nice pie if you please, beef, mutton, or veal, made 'em all myself, quite clean; one for you, thank you sir! Now then for your real Banbury cakes! Here Bob I'st gi' thee o toss? I say, Joseph, has t'seen out of our our Mary? hoo's begun o goin t' yon Music Room, I yeard on her t' other neet bein there wi' o chap, but if I catch her I'll make her

                Flare up my hearties, &c.