11 May 00 - 10:49 PM (#226862)
Subject: The Collier's Keek at the Nation
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
The Collier's Keek at the Nation Huz Colliers, for a' they can say,
Hae blyeth heads and hearts that are sound--
And if we're but teun i' wor way,
There's few better cheps above ground.
Tom Caveres and me, fra West Moor,
On a kind ov a jollification,
Yen day myed what some folks call a tour,
For a keek at the state o' the nation. We fand, er we'd lang been on jaunt,
That the world wasn't gannin sae cliver--
It had gettin a Howdon-Pan cant,
As aw gat once at wor boxdinner.
Monny tyels, tee, we heard, stiff and gleg--
Some laid the world straight as a die--
Some crook'd as a dog's hinder leg,
Or, like wor fitter's nose, all a-wry. One tell'd me, my heart for to flay,
(Thinking aw knew nought about town)
Out o' my three-and-sixpence a-day,
The King always gat half-a-crown.
Aw said they were fuels not to ken
That aw gat a' the brass me awnsel--
Ga' wor Peg three white shillins, and then
Laid the rest out on backey and yell! They babb'd oot that aw was mistuen-
That maw brains sairly wanted seduction--
Without animal Parliaments seun
We wad a' gan to wreck and construction--
That we'd wrought ower lang for wor lair--
That landlords were styen-hearted tykes--
for their houses and land only fair,
To divide them and live as yen likes! To bring a' these fine things about
Was as easy as delving aslent is--
Only get some rapscallion sought out,
And to Lunnin sent up to present us.
Thinks aw to mysel' that's weel meant--
There's wor Cuddy owre laith to de good,
We'll hev him to Parliament sent,
Where he'll bray, smash his byens, for his blood. Then, says aw, Tommy, keep up thy pluck,
We may a' live to honour wor nation--
So here's tiv Au'd England, good luck!
and may each be content with his station.
Huz Colliers, for a' they can say,
Hae Byeth heeds and hearts that ar sound--
And if we're but teun i' wor way,
There's few better cheps above ground.
R.Gilchrist -In: The Newcastle Song Book or Tyne-Side Songster., W&T Fordyce
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