Lyr Add: Tommy Carr's Adventures in Asstrilly

Subject: Lyr Add: Tommy Carr's Adventures in Asstrilly
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 11:15 AM

Tommy Carr's Adventures in Asstrilly

Here aw is, byeth skin an' byen in Asstrilly, O!
Man, aw wished aw'd stopt at hyem frae Asstrilly, O!
Maw inside's a' most gyen,
Tho' aw wonce weighted thirteen styen,
Noo aw scairshly can weigh yen in Asstrilly, O!

Aw sell'd maw keel for twenty pund throo Asstrilly, O!
Not a morsel o' gowl' aw fund in Asstrilly, O!
Sum natives com one day,
An' brunt maw hut like hay,
An' Fat Hannah stole away in Asstrilly, O!

They tried me tiv a tree in Asstrilly, O!
But a Yankee set me free in Asstrilly, O!
Aw' scap'd withoot a hurt,
But they stript me te my shurt,
So aw rubbed mee'sel wi' durt in Asstrilly, O!

Aw paid for vittels wiv a froon in Asstrilly, O!
Three taties for a croon in Asstrilly, O!
Sprats is sivenpence in a dish;
An' if a bit nice cod ye wish,
Fifteen shillins buys the fish in Asstrilly, O!

Few wives thor's te be seen in Asstrily, O!
What thor is thor a' serene in Asstrilly, O!
Thor beer hes a nesty tack;
Coals is 'ighteen shillins a sack,
An' ye get them varry black in Asstrilly, O!

Sma' beer's ten shillins a quairt in Asstrilly, O!
Besides, it's soor an' tairt in Asstrilly, O!
Six shillins a three pund brick;
Butter's half-a-croon a lick;
'Sides they nivver gie ye tick in Asstrilly, O!

Spoken- O Lord ! O dear ! aw wish aw was safe hyem wonce mair! When aw com to this cursed country, aw'd plenty ov ivverything: plenty o' munny, plenty o' claes; noo aw's nowt but rags. Aw'd myek a poor moothful for a wild beast, unless he's fond o' rags an' byens, for thor's ne flesh on mine. What a fuil aw was te leeve canny Newcassel te cum an' hunt for gowld! O Lord! O dear! 'steed o' me huntin' for gowld, they've hunted me frae one place tiv anuther, till aw heb ne place but this one, an' it's warse than ne place. What wi' bushmen, blackies, convicts, Indians, rattle-snakes, boa constructors, wolves, an' sic like human creatures, aw've had ne peace since aw left England. Just 'magine bein' tossed aboot on the ocean, an' then te be hunted like a kangaroo! Aw had a hut. Fat Hannah, Jimmy, an' me happened te lie doon to rest wor byens, when aw smelled fire. Oot aw' popped and there was black divils shootin' ootside. They stole my things; cut off wi' Fat Hannah (ne bargain!) Then they walked off wi' me for supper, but aw've run for'd: an' here aw've been wanderin' aboot five or six days amangst thorns, till aw hevin't a stitch o' claes left on me back, nor ne grub in me belly. Aw myed the lasat meal o' maw hat, an' aw felt it sair on me stomack. But it sarves me reet to cum oot here, for te loss me money and when te loss maw claes. O Lord! aw'll loos me senses next! Aw wish aw was safe back te canny Newcassel, if aw cud oney get oot o' this purgatory spot.

Aw' return a rooind man frae Asstrilly, O!
Get on, whey ne man can in Asstrilly, O!
Noo here aw groan an' pine,
Aw's diddled up se fine-
O welcum, Coaly Tyne, frae Asstrilly, O!

-Corvan