Lyr Add: The Fire on the Kee

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FIRE ON THE KEE
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 19 Jun 04 - 02:18 PM

The Fire on the Kee

The Explosion of October 6th 1854, which took its rise from a fire in Gateshead, was perhaps the greatest calamity that ever happened in the North of England.

Tune- "Wor Jocker."

Oh! hae ye seen wor Jimmy, oh! hae ye seen wor Jimmy?
Oh hae ye seen wor Jimmy? for the lad's gyen on the spree,
He's pawn'd his coat an' troosers, he gans on as he chooses,
He can wallop a' the breuisers an' greet bullies on the Kee.

Chorus
Oh1 hae ye sen wor Jimmy, oh! hae ye seen wor Jimmy?
Tell me, maw canny hinny, for the lad's gyen on the spree.

His nose is neat an' canny, he's a model of a mannie,
An' the pictuor o' wor Fanny, oh, the nasty drukken sow.
Aw'll yark his byens wi' skelpin, aw'll set the yelp a yelpin,
Presarve us! there's ne helpin byestin laddies now.

Oh, hae ye seen wor Jimmy, etc.

He hes a bull-dog wiv him, folks dorsent say owt tiv him,
A good heart beats within him, for he knocks the pollis doon;
He hes twe nice black eyes, tee, an' a mouth for eatin pies, tee;
Folks say he's not ower wise, tee, an' call the lad a cloon.

Spoken- Aw wish aw could lay hands on him; he went to seek wark this morning- Wark! he's been seekin wark this fourteen years an' niver getting a job yet-But that fire on the Kee ruined the lad's mind; a gyeble end iv a hoose fell on his head-He's been crack'd iver since. Marcy, what a cuty fosty, but aw'll gie ye an account on't efter the style ov the "Deeth ov Nelson."

Tune-"Twas in Trafalgar's Bay."

It was a fearful crsh, old buildings they went smash,
'Twas never so before;
The haunts of "auld lang syne" burnt doon on Coaly Tyne,
Laying waste the desolate shore:
For oh! it was a fearful sight, and many a home was lost that night,
For death's grim visitation brought ruin and devastation,
And as from 'mid the flames they hie,
Mercy! save us! hundreds cry--
O! Firemen, do your duty!
O! Firemen, do your duty!

Tune-"Descriptive Chant."

Hurrying to and fro countless thousands might be seen,
Emerging after hairbreadth 'scapes from ruins where danger just had been;
The soldiers in solemn silence guard the dangerous way,
And firemen willing point to the hoose to where gaiety dwelt but yesterday.
The populace rushed forth half-dressed in day or night attire,
Like maniacs with maddened brain, from death's devouring fire.

Chorus
For o! the flames Vesuvious-like, they spread o'er land and sea,
Laying desolate waste the spot where once had been Newcastle Kee.

Now many serio-comic scenes were enacted wher poor people did dwell,
For goods and chattels from mysterious cribs came tunbling down pellmell.
Aw saw one poor deevil, mevies just getting oot o' bed,
Hop varry quick to one sid iz a wash-han' basin, a kyel pot, and a yetlin' fell a-top his head.
'Twas fearful to see the poor aud wives in narrow chares and lanes
Picking up their bits o' things, exposing life, aw's sure they spared ne pains.

Chorus
Aw say, Pally! thraw the bed oot the window, niver mind the stocks,
Seize Ned's Sunday britches aw bowt last week, but niver mind the box.
Marcy! the floor's geen way,-noo whe wid iver think
That decent folks gan te bed 'boot ten o' clock shud be se close upon deeth's brink?
Search for Tommy's fustin claes, aw cannot see for smoke,
Luik sharp, ye platter-fyeced bunter, or else, begumm, aw'll choke

Chorus

Search for the barin's cradle, it's a claes-basket, niver mind, shove it to the door.
Let the aud clock stand agyen the wall, it's time it went 'cas it waddent gan before;
A German for a shillin a week clagged it up agyen the wall,
He's got nowt yet, so faith his tick aw think'll suin be tickin small.
They say Ralphy L--tle's broke his legs, but that myeks little matter,
Cawse a glass o' brandy'll put him reet, wiv a bottle o'soda watter.

Chrous

Pally, hinny, rush I' the crood an' shoot, for see the smoke an low gets dense,
And luik for Jimmy, maw canny hinny, for the laddie hez ne sense;
But there's a crood o' men there- Mister, can aw claim yor attention?
Aw've lost maw darlin son, an' what he's like aw'll mention-
He's nee scholar, bless the laddie! but he smokes an' chows,
He's parshall ti military movements, espeshley Sangate rows;

He's gat his millishor claes on, thou'll ken him iv a crack,
Besides sum stripes for good behavior, but they put them on his back.
His appearance commands respect- hae ye seen him gannin by?
The skin's off his knockles wi' fightin', an he sports a lairge black eye!

Chorus

-Corvan, 1862

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE FIRE ON THE KEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 12:46 PM

Interesting. Nice notes.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE FIRE ON THE KEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 01:07 PM

One of my favorites but I think the one I have heard recorded omitted the first bit.

Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: THE FIRE ON THE KEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 05:21 PM

I have heard the first bit tagged onto the main song at the end with a similar chorus
"Ha ye seen oor Jimmy, ma canny hinny"