Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle

Subject: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 09:33 AM

The Chinese Sailors in Newcastle

John Chinaman hes cum te spy
Wor canny Northern toon,
Wi flatten'd fyece, an' funny eye,
An' skin ov olive broon,
An' stumpy feet, an' lang pig-tails,
An' claes o' clooty blue,
Alang wor street he slawly trails,
Just like a live yule doo.

Chorus
John Chinaman, John Chinaman,
What hev ye cum te see?
What de ye think o' wor toon lads?
Hoo de ye like wor Quay?

Hev ye been to the Market yit,
Wor cabbages te see,
Or "get a puddin' nice an' het,"
Or hev a cup o' tea?
Or hev ye been te th' cutleer's there
Te get yor-sel a knife,
Or stroll'd th' length o' filly fair
To choose yor-sel a wife?

John Chinaman, etc.

Or hev ye had a swagger doon
By mosley Street at neet,
An' watched them myek th' bonny meun
Wiv Swan's Electric Leet?
Or hev ye been te Law's place,
An' smiled yor biggest laff,
An' let yor pigtail hing wi' grace,
Te get yor photygraff?

John Chinaman, etc.

Or hev ye been te Barka's
The bicycles te try,
An' show'd th' Quayside marquises,
Like them yor rethor "fly"?
Or hev ye been te see th' shops
Te spend yor English tin,
An' as th' money frae ye drops,
Suspect yor tek'n in?

jJohn Chinaman, etc.

Or hev ye had a ridy-pide
Inside a Tramway Car,
Wi' grinnin' fyeuls at every side
A' wunderin' what ye are?
Or hev ye bowt a big-ci-ga',
An' tried to myek it leet,
An' gyen an' deun the La-di-da,
Alang by Grainger Street?

John Chinaman, etc.

Then trail alang, John Chinaman,
Amang the crood ov bairns,
An' touchy tyest all ye can,
For that's th' way one lairns;
But, mind, beware o' cheeky lass,
An' whisky, John, and beer,
For if ye tyek an extra glass,
Oh, John, 'twill cost ye dear!

John Chinaman, etc.

If ye shud tyek a drop ower much,
An' it gets in yor eye,
An' ye get I' wor bobby's clutch,
By sangs, he'llmyek ye cry-
He'll tyek ye up before the "chief,"
An' though yor skin be broon,
An' ye be neither rogue nor thief,
He'll fine ye haaf-a-croon.

John Chinaman, etgc.

But ye'll heve seen, John Chinaman,
Barbarious English cheps
Disgrace the varry nyem ov men,'
Th' blackguard jackanyeps!
Should ony drucken cudy, John,
Dar smite ye in the gob,
We'll let ye break a saucer, John,
An' fine him forty bob.

John Chinaman, etc.

John Chinaman, John Chinaman,
Dressed in yor suit ov blue,
Ye've cum te see John Englishman,
'An' axee-how-he-doo.
Yor welcome here, John Chinaman,
Te buy yor guns an' ships,
An' if ye bring yor munny, John,
Ye'll find us jolly chips.

-John Chinaman, etc.

James Horsley, 1881

In 1881, at Armstrong's a war vessel was built for the Chinese Government, and some hundreds of Chinese sailors came to Newcastle as her crew. The song describes

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 10:46 AM

Another interesting find!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 10:58 AM

Wonder what happened to the ship?

The collection is quite kind to foreigners and minorities actually....
Perhaps they were left out as being tasteless ofensive etc....
Far more targets of ridicule were pitmen, keelmen, etc. Of course
the collection is urban centered-around Newcastle. This song also indicates the urban need for the trade of immigrants and foreigneres spending....the welcome....so higlights the role of song as public relations tool to extend business and tourism.....of course there was some reference to being taken advantage of as well....

Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 12:45 PM

Conrad-

It probably was sunk in the China-Japanese War of 1895.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: Les from Hull
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 01:10 PM

There were two vessels 'fast gunboats' of 1350tons. with a main armament of 2-10in guns. and a speed of 16 knots, but little armour. They were built at Mitchells and their armament provided by Armstrongs. They were called Chao Yung and Yang Wei and sailed with their Chinese crews (with European technical advisors) arriving in Chinese waters in October 1881.

They were both sunk by the Japanese at the Battle of the Yalu 17.09.1894.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: JWB
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 01:41 PM

Conrad,

There's some text missing from your first post, so I don't know if you covered this already. What's the collection you found this in?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 02:03 PM

Allan's Tyneside Songs.

missing....

          Them as seen on the streets



sorry bout that....cut and paste error....

          Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: Sourdough
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 03:29 PM

If anyone wants more information, there is a book about Armstrong's called "Warships for Export - Armstrong Warships 1867-1927" published five years ago and is by Peter Brook. It is in print and can be ordered from the World Ship Society but I don't know the cost.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 04:39 PM

Les and Sourdough-

Your willingness to post background information is one of the things which makes Mudcat useful as well as entertaining.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: GUEST, TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 05:48 PM

The yule doo mentioned in the first verse was (is) a little cake fashioned into a figure -- like a modern gingerbread man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: *#1 PEASANT*
Date: 22 Jun 04 - 06:53 PM

Thanks!
Wonderful response keep them coming. I will add the infomation in to the final web pages.

Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: GUEST,Catherine
Date: 20 Dec 23 - 05:29 PM

Anyone know the tune?
There was John chinaman's reply but i cant find the words

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Chinese Sailors In Newcastle
From: cnd
Date: 20 Dec 23 - 07:47 PM

A wiki page on the songwriter, James Horsley, says the tune is "My Darling Molly" -- I suppose that means Molly Ban.

Here's the response. It was indeed difficult to find. I've reproduced it below, as included in Lays of Jesmond and Tyneside songs and poems, pp. 124-126

JOHN CHINAMAN'S REPLY
(In Pigeon English)

To the Song "Chinese Sailors in Newcassel."

John Englishman he writee song which makee people smile,
And takee off John Chinaman in very funny style;
He makee fun of long pig-tail — me tink he better drop,
For English Johnny's hair am cut in style of " kitty crop."

John Chinaman he peaceable, and no mind bit of scoff;
But he no give "one on the eye," nor cut him pig-tail off!
Him do not sookey down him throat a lot of whiskey beer,
And then go knock him wifee down and frightful curse and swear!

John Englishman have whitee skin, but them him ways seem black;
He kissee kindee one short time, then hit him friend hard smack.
And when you meet him in the street, or public house, or tram,
The only thing he seem to say am English for "go-tam;"

But still him am a regular brick and like him baccy chow,
But him a little much too fond of kickee up a row.
The English boys am very fast and makee somewhat free,
And shovee crowdee in the streets, and shout " here am Chi-nee!"

But this may be the customee in this barbarian land,
Where childe start the wax light trade as soon as him can stand.
Me like to talk the English tongue, though it be rather queer,
But me have learnt to say "by gum," "how-way," and "pint o' beer;"

I like to see John English in him skiff, when he "keel-rows,"
But hardly think it quite the thing to sit without him clothes.
But English swell dress very fine, him trousers very tight,
He gettee them for no sit down, him have to stand upright!

Him use himself for tailor's block, for so I've heard them say;
Him buy great many suits of clothes, but do he always pay?
He seems much proudee of his feet, and neatly them adorns;
John Chinaman's am not so smart, but then him have no corns!

When English Johnny want to ride him mount him bici-keel,
And look much like a monkey on him grandma's spinning wheel!
I likee your policemen, for he movee people on;
And rushee in to catchee tief when rogue am nicely gone.

I likee John Bull magistrate, he always home to dine;
And when the bobby bring him "case," he knowee how to "fine."
I like him grand pagodas where he 'vite him companee,
And ask him friend, John Chinaman, to "chin-chin " and to tea.

Him ladies voices very sweet, they have much pig-tail hair,
But oh, the style in which they dress, how much they do not wear!
I likee English grand big shops, "fine windows' looke well,
But customer am hardly sure, if he or goods am "sell;"

I like much your joss houses, the music please mine ear,
But much I like your dram shop bar, your mild and bitter beer;
I likee much the Circus and reception givee me,
Ten thousand Tyneside Geordies shakee hands with John Chinee.

I likee much to welcome you on board the ship "Hae Shin"—
To see me use the chop-sticks and smokee and chin-chin;
And when I leave your canny Tyne, I'll kiss good-bye and laugh,
And wish your pretty girls were mine, and send them photograph.