Little Chance.
I learned this song from Jack Elliot of Birtley County Durham. It seems it originated around the Tow Law, Cornsay, Consett, area of Durham around the turn of the century where it was sung around Christmas time. Bert Lloyd collected it in 1951 from Charles Bevil, who was shot firer at Fir Tree Drift Tow Law, who remembered it from fifty years ago

LITTLE CHANCE

Ye gan ower the Busty fields to gan doon the pit
Ye get your lamp out, ye gan in bye and there ye sit at the kist
The debity says your place is howled ye'll hev te gan strite on
Ah says te him what's the matter me own he says she canna gan on
Ah got sixteen out i the jud Titty fal la titty fal lay
Aye by god she was good Titty fal la titty fal lay
I come out te get a shaft the timmer it gave a crack
And a stone fell on me back Titty fal la titty fal lay

Tra la la la la laa ower the walls oot

Ye sure te knaa me brother Bill he's se full o wit
He;s got the job of puttin doon at the Busty pit
When he gans yhame at neet he's like a droonded rat
insteed of gannin upstairs te bed he lies doon on the mat
But he can put a hundred or more Titty...............
They pay him by the score titty.................
He fills his tubs se quick withoot any delay
But he can niver find his pick Titty..............

Jack and Bill two marras wore in a publik hoose
Ye talk aboot the cavels lad it wadent frighten a moose
Jack says ti Bill ay by gox she's hard
The tops is like bell metal but the bottoms is not se bad
Ye bugger I only got fower the day Titty.............
I only got fower the day Titty.........
If I'd getten another fower I was wishin the shift was ower
When the putter come off the way Titty..

Why me name is Jackie Robinson me name I Dee advance
I drive a little gallowa they call him little chance
Two greasy feet likewise a kickley back
And gannin ower the gannin boards he meks the chummins knack
We wor cummin aroond the torn Titty..........
Chancey wadent had on Titty..........
We cum roond the torn se quick we cum off the way at the switch
Ye bugger we smashed the debity's kist Titty.........

Now me and me wife and me muther in law went doon te the silvery sea
Me muther in law got into a boat a sailor she wad be
She hadent gone a few yards when I hord hor shoot
Me muther in law fell inte the watter and there she's splashin aboot
She shoots help i cannit swim Titty........
I says noos the time te larn Titty.......
Me wife she says ye hoond ye not gann'a watch hor droond
I says no all shut me eyes Titty............

One day when I was walkin doon by the Jarra shore
I met wi Jontys dowter she was stannin at the door
She says te me will ye hev a cup of tea
And eftor the way I spent that neet I swore I'd Dee it again
I put me hand upon hoe calfs Titty.......
She says divent Dee things be halves Titty.......
Now I keep hor company and she's very fond of me
And I'm a bugger for tea Titty.........^^

Bill