Lyr Add: Tars and Skippers

Subject: Lyr Add: Tars and Skippers
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 10:59 PM

Tars and Skippers
Tune-"Derry Down."

Four hardy Jack tars, wi' a noble intent,
To protect the remains of a messmate they went,
To the Ballast Hills arm'd, just about the midwatch,
To prevent resurrectionists moving his hatch.

Derry Down…

Each tar took his post; no way daunted with fear,
When two drunken skippers near the place did appear;
While stawping alang, it dropt into their head,
They wad byeth gan an' watch a friend they had dead.

Derry Down…

The tars, now alarm'd they prepared for attack--
Ower a styen byeth the skippers now fell on their back;
O Lord! exclaim'd Jacky, we cannot lie here,
Or we'll byeth be tyen off by resurrectioners, aw fear!

Derry Down…

Who's there? cried the tars , or who may you be?
Ax about! replied Jacky, what's that to ye?
We're not robbers like ye- what else can wi say?-
Come here for to carry the dead folks away.

Derry Down

Here's me and friend Ralph knew a friend down the shore,
For pulling, wi' him neyn could touch the oar;
So me and my neighbour's just come for to see
If his body's tuen off by sic robbers as ye.

Derry Down

A signal for action- the tars gave a cough,
To the skippers' amazement, a pistol went off-
The skippers byeth drunk, now sober did feel,
To get out o' their way, they byeth tuik to heel.

Derry Down

Ralphy, he thowt 'twould been a terrible job,
If they'd byeth getting a plaister clapp'd on their gob;
For the skippers tuik the tars fro resurrection men-
The tars tuik the skippers to be just the syem.

Derry down.

Marshall, 1829




This song is a relic of the old resurrection days. The Burke and Hare excitement caused a great many country churchyards to be regularly watched, the people forming themselves into gangs or sets of watchers. This does not appear to have been the case in Newcastle. Here, according \to old inhabitants, watching was common, but it was done by friends of the deceased, or by parties engaged by them for that purpose.