Lyr Add: Weel May the Keel Row- Breed Version

Subject: Lyr Add: WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 13 Jun 04 - 11:08 PM

WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW
That gets the Bairns their Breed

Weel may the keel row, the keel row, the keel row,
Weel may the keel row,
And better may she speed;
Weel may the keel row, the keel row, the keel row,
Weel may the keel row,
That gets the bairns their breed.

We tyuk wor keel up to the dyke,
Up to the dyke, up to the dyke,
We tyuk wor keel up to the dyke,
An' there we gat her load;
Then sail'd away doon to Shields,
Doon to Shields, doon to Shields,
Then sail'd away doon to Shields,
And shipp'd wor coals abroad.

Singin'- Weel may the keel row, etc.

Then we row'd away up to the fest,
Up to the fest, up to the fest,
We row'd away up to the fest,
Cheerly every man;
Pat by wor geer and moor'd wor keel,
And moor'd wor keel, and moor'd wor keel,
Pat by wor geer and moor'd wor keel,
Then went and drank wor can.

Singin'- Weel may the keel row, etc..

Our canny wives, or clean fireside,
Our bonny bairns-their parent's pride,
Sweet smiles that make life smoothly glide,
We find when we gan hyem;
They'll work for us when we get au'd,
The'll keep us frae the winter's cau'd,
As life declines they'll us uphaud-
When young we uphaud them.

Singin'- Weel may the keel row, etc.

-Unknown, Marshall's Collection, 1827

Subject: Lyr Add: WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 08:13 PM

Since this version appears in a book of Tyneside Songs with many of those posted by #1 Peasant, I think it fits here. The first two veses are old familiars (see the DT), but the third is "modern" (Book printed in the 1870s). Edward Corvan, George Ridley et al., "Tyneside Songs," pub. T. Allen, 96 pp.

Lyr. Add: WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW

As I came thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
As I cam thro' Sandgate, I heard a lassie sing,
Weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
Weel may the keel row,
That my laddie's in.

He wears a blue bonnet, blue bonnet, blue bonnet
He wears a blue bonnet, a dimple in his chin;
And weel may the keel row
The keel row, the keel row
And weel may the keel row,
That my laddie's in.

Soon he'll be back again, back again, back again,
Soon he'll be back again his true love to win.
Then weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
And weel may the keel row,
That my laddie's in.

The tune is one of several used in the performance of "Bobobella; or, The Blacky Moor Keelman." by 'Billy Leatherbreeks.'

We'll away to Braby's house,
Braby's house, Braby's house
We'll away to Braby's house,
An' tell him of his dowter!

She's gyen away wi' Blacky Moor,
Blacky Moor, Blacky Moor,
She's gyen away wi' Blacky Moor,
And mony a gyet they've sowt her.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Weel May the Keel Row- Breed Version
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 08:32 PM

Cut too quickly.
"Bobobella; or, the Blacky Moor Keelman, from E. Corvan and G. Ridley, 1870s (ND), Tyneside Songs, T, Allan pub., Newcastle.