Hello. Hope nobody minds me reopening an old thread, but I noticed that the versions of the songs where the action in set in Liverpool, from broadside sources, didn't get much of an airing. I thought I'd post a couple of the sources I've used while recording a Liverpool version of the Bonny Grey as part of my Liverpool folk song a week project:
http://aliverpoolfolksongaweek.blogspot.com/2011/06/9-bonny-grey.html

(Note that I haven't found any particular tune associated with these Liverpool versions, so when singing it I've used something based on Kidson's tune for the Holbeck Moor Cock-Fight)

The Bonny Gray from Ballads and Songs of Lancashire ed. John Harland, 2nd Edition, 1875

Come all you cock-merchants far and near,
Did you hear of a cock-fight happening here?
Those Liverpool lads, I've heard them say,
'Tween the Charcoal Black and the Bonny Gray.

We went to Jim Ward's, and call'd for a pot,
Where this grand cock-battle was fought;
For twenty guineas a-side these cocks did play,
The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Gray.

Then Lord Derby came swaggering down:
"I'll bet ten guineas to a crown,
If this Charcoal Black he gets fair play,
He'll clip the wings of your Bonny Gray."

Now when these cocks came to the sod,
Cry the Liverpool lads, "How now? what odds?"
The odds, the Prescot lads did say,
'Tween the Charcoal Black and the Bonny Gray.

This cock-fight was fought hard and fast,
Till Black Charcoal he lay dead at last.
The Liverpool lads gave a loud huzza,
And carried away the Bonny Gray!

(John Harland notes: "This song celebrated a famous cock-fight in the days of 'the old Lord Derby' — Edward, the 12th earl — who was very fond of the sport, and who died in 1834... The song appears to indicate that the cock-pit in which the battle was fought was in Liverpool; and it is clear that the Earl and the Prescot lads backed the cock named 'Charcoal Black,' while the Liverpool folks supported the 'Bonny Gray,' which proved the victor.")



The Bonny Grey from a broadside by Harkness of Preston

Come you cock-merchants far and near,
Did you hear of a cock battle happened near,
Those Liverpool lads I've heard them say,
The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Grey.

We went to Jim Ward's and call'd for a pot,
Where this cock battle was fought;
Twenty guineas a-side these two cocks did play,
The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Grey.

Then Lord Derby came swaggering down,
Bet ten guineas to a crown,
If this Charcoal Black he gets fair play,
He will rip the wings of your Bonny Grey.

O these two cocks came to the sod,
Cries the Liverpool lads, how now? What odds?
The odds the Prescot lads did say.
The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Grey,

This cock battle it was fought,
Whilst the Charcoal Black he lay dead at last;
The Liverpool lads gave a loud huzza,
And carried away the Bonny Grey.