Wow, this takes me back to where I spent the last year and a half.

I know all the facts are spread true through here but, yes it's a mining song, but one thing that always puzzles me is that Walker doesn't have a shore which is quite strange, unless it is refering to the shores of the tyne...hmmm, interesting thought. Byker Hill is what is now known as Byker Bank I think and it lays at the side of Byker Wall, a big ugly strange wall of houses that was way ahead of it's time when it was built in the sixties.

Funnily enough there is a great pub called THE CUMBERLAND ARMS on Byker Hill which has a fantastic traditional music night on a Wednesday and any other night of the week people care to go with instruments. The landlord and Landlady are great and if you were to go in they could tell you the whole story of the song. They'll even show you the words they have framed on the side of the bar. I used to have to borrow them when we sang it in the session till I learnt all the words!!

Good luck.

Emma xxx