11 May 00 - 10:47 PM (#226859)
Subject: Bold Archy & Blind Willie's Lament
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Bold Archy & Blind Willie's Lament On the Death of Captain Starkey. What! is he gyen? Bold Airchy said, And moungin' scratch'd his head-- O can sic waesome news be true? Is Captain Starkey dead? Aw's griev'd at heart--push round the can-- Seun empty frae wor hands we'll chuck it-- For now we'll drink wor last to him, since he has fairly kick'd the bucket. My good shag hat ne mair aw'll wave, His canny fyace to see-- Wor bairns' bairns will sing o' him, As Gilchrist sings o' me-- For O! he was a lad o' wax! Aw've seen him blithe, an' often mellow-- He might hae faults, but, wi' them a', We've seldom seen a better fellow. Yen day they had me drown'd for fun, Which myed the folks to blair; Aw mysest could wish, for his dear sake, That aw'd been drown'd for fair. On monny a day when cannons roar, Yen loyal heart will then be missin-- If there be yell, we'll toast his nyem-- If there be nyen, he'll get wor blissin. Blind Willie then strumm'd up his kit Wi' monny a weary drone, Which Thropler, drunk, and Cuckoo Jack Byeth answer'd wiv a groan. Nice chep! poor chep! Blind Willie said-- My heart is pierc'd like onny riddle, To think aw've liv'd to see him dead-- Aw never mair 'ill play the fiddle. His gam is up, his pipe is out, And fairly laid his craw-- His fame 'ill blaw about just like Coal dust at Shiney-Raw. He surely was a joker rare-- What times there'd been for a' the nation, Had he but liv'd to be a Mayor, The glory o' wor Corporation. But he has gi'en us a' the slip, And gyen for evermore-- Au'd Judy and Jack Coxon tee, Has gyen awhile before-- And we maun shortly follow them, An' tyek the bag, my worthy gentles-- Then what 'ill poor Newcassel dee, Depriv'd of all her ornamentals! We'll moralize-- for dowly thowts, Are mair wor friends thatn foes-- For death, like when the tankard's out, Brings a' things tiv a close. May we like him, frae grief and toil, When laid in peace beneath the hether-- Upon the last eternal shore, A' happy, happy meet together! R. Gilchrist-In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce Newcastle Upon Tyne.
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