Lyr Add: Twenty Fower O'Clock (from Bodleian)

24 Sep 08 - 04:20 AM (#2448737)
Subject: Twenty Fower o'Clock broadside
From: pavane

While searching the Bodleian collection for something else, I came across this Geordie song, which might be useful for someone.

The tune is stated as "Polly's Nick Stick" which I can't find anywhere, but it looks like it fits the "Famous Fiery clock face" tune.

Twenty fower o'Clock

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15 Dec 10 - 11:51 AM (#3054077)
Subject: Lyr Add: TWENTY-FOWER O'CLOCK (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon

From the Bodleian Library broadside collection, Harding B 11(3913):


TWENTY-FOWER O'CLOCK.
Tune: "Polly's Nick Stick."
Reprinted from the Newcastle Courant, with Additions.

1. Smash marras! hey ye heerd the tyel,
That's gannin i' the toon, man?
Aw heerd it ower a pint o' yel,
Aw had wi' Tommy Broon, man!
We just had gettin' sitten doon,
It cam just like a shock, man—
They said the foaks in London toon
War gan to double the clock, man!

Fal de dal, &c.

2. A chep wis readin' ower the news,
Fra' Parlymint te sport, man!
He spell'd it oot wi' sairish tews,
When sumthin' stopp'd him short, man!
He gav a shoot, and wiv a bang
The tyeble he did knock, man!
Aw lowp'd reet up. Says aw, "What's wrang?"
"Wey, Twenty-fower o'clock, man!"

3. "By gum!" says aw, "ye divvent say
That sic a story's true, man!
An' that they'll coont the 'oors a day
In scores, biv all that's blue man?
The Nine-'oors that we've had se lang
They surely winnet dock, man?
Noo tyek maw word, thor'll sum get wrang
Wi' Twenty-fower o'clock, man!

4. Aw lay, noo, that they think wor skulls
Wiv owt they'll easily prime, man!
They'll find they'll not, the slavverin' culls,
Knock us reet oot o' time, man!
Aw bet we'll knaw the time o' day-
Sin Nicholas time, begox, man!
Wor buzzers, te, 'ill blaw away
Thor Twenty-fower o'clocks, man!

5. Wor watches noo 'ill a' be wrang
Wor clocks mun change thor chime, man!
Te strike the 'oors 'ill tyek se lang
They'll want thor owertime, man!
The varry ghosts that waalk at neet
'Ill shiver at each knock, man!
When 'stead o' twelve, they end thor beat
At Twenty-fower o'clock, man;

6. The railway trains 'ill not be last
Awd Time they mean te beat, man!
Thor A.M.'s, P.M.'s noo are past
Ne mornin', neun, nor neet, man!
The drapers noo 'ill not dar squeak,
But sadly show thor stock, man!
Wiv "early closin" all the week
At Eighteen bi the clock, man!

7. Maw wife, she says, "Wey, hinney, Ned
Sic times aw've nivver seen, noo!
Te think o' puttin' the bairns te bed
At quarter-past Nineteen, noo;
Aw hope sic wark they'll surely snub,
Maw feelin's it wad shock, man,
Te hey ye cumin fra yor club
At Twenty-fower o'clock, man."

8. Says aw, "Oh divvent fear, maw lass,
Te fret thor is ne caal, noo;
For when the Twenty-three 'oors pass
They cum te nowt at all, noo;
For twelve at neet's a cypher-ring,
An' then the 'oors they block, man!
So efter all thor's ne sic thing
As Twenty-fower o'clock, man."

9. Now tickers, noo, we all mun buy,
Vi' Twenty-fower all roond, man!
Th' American Shops aw mean te try
Fer Watches an' Clocks renoon'd, man!
At Grainger Street West an' Collingwood Street
Ye'll find a wonderful stock, man,
Wi' bran new Dials an' all gan reet,
Te Twenty-fower o'clock, man!

J. H.

Wm. Richardson & Co.'s American Houses, 5, Grainger St. West & 22, Collingwood St., Newcastle.

W. R. & Co. have made special arrangements for altering all kinds of Watches to the New Time, on short notice and at trifling cost.


[The last verse above was apparently added by the sponsor, Richardson. The original last verse can be seen below, from Lays of Jesmond and Tyneside Songs and Poems by James Horsley (Newcastle-on-Tyne: Andrew Reid & Sons, 1891), page 138:]

On New Year's Eve we'll all be doon,
As monny as ivver ye like, man;
Forst-footers frev all ower the toon
Te hear the Major strike, man!
An' there we'll stand a gyepin' crood,
Waitin' for his knock, man!
An' welcome in the New Year's Day
At Twenty-fovver o'clock, man!

[James Horsley is apparently the J. H. referred to in the broadside.]

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