That morning forget I will never, When first I saw him on the Kee, The "Keel-row" he whistled se clever, He won my affections frae me; His drawers on his doup luik"d se canny, His keel-hat was c.o.c.k"d on his head, And if I"d not getten my Jimmy, Faith by this time I wad hae been dead.
O wad the keel, &c.
The first time I spoke to my Jimmy-- Now mind ye, it isn"t a lee-- My mother had gi"en me a penny, To get her a penn"orth o" tea; When a lad i" the street cried out, "Bessy!"
Says I, "Hinny, that"s not my nyem."
"Becrike! never mind," he said, "la.s.sie, "To-neet I will see thee safe hyem."
O wad the keel, &c.
Since then I have been his true-lover, And lov"d him as dear as my life, And in spite o" baith father and mother, I"ll suin be my keel-laddie"s wife; How happy we"ll be then together, When he brings hyem his wages to me, Wiv his bonny bit bairn crying "Father,"
And another be lying o" my knee.
O wad the keel, &c.
AN OLD AND CURIOUS SONG,
_On the late Mr. R. Clayton being made an Alderman._
Tune--"The Vicar and Moses."
My good Mr. Pun, We know you like fun, And also to crack a good joke; "Tis well known in the nation, That our Corporation Has long lain under a cloak.
Fal lal de ral, &c.
But after your year, How strange "twill appear, (Pray Heaven it prove for your good,) To all the whole nation, That our Corporation Will then crouch under a _Hood_.[42]
Now, we poor folks, Who"re not us"d to jokes, But with the sweets take the bitters-- The folks in our station Think our Corporation Has long been outfitted by Fitters.
Oh, Watty! Oh, Watty![43]
Shouldst thou now see _Natty_, And his clan, how thickly they lay"t on; You"d say, in their order, Mayor, Commons, Recorder, Are all now outwitted by _Cl----n_.
From the days of good _Walters_, To his who makes halters,[44]
Such changes have here taken place, That from its high station, Our poor Corporation Has sunk into abject disgrace.
When the Alderman"s gown Was hawk"d about town, And none would be found for to lay"t on, Up stepp"d brother Bob, And settled the job, And he was dubb"d Alderman _C----n_.
Yet think not, that though such, He"ll quit the Town"s Hutch, Or any thing there let miscarry; Still there he"ll give law, Rule by his _cat"s paw_, The ever obliging _Old Harry_.
Ye honest electors, Our faithful protectors, In you there can never be blame; As by following the Mayor.
And supporting the chair, We always must vote for the same.
Ye sc.u.m of the bowl, In vain you may growl, Like the swinish group in a storm, Nat will rule the roast, And still make a boast, That danger lies not in Reform.[45]
Footnote 42: Alderman Hood.
Footnote 43: Ald. Blackett.
Footnote 44: Ald. Cramlington.
Footnote 45: A few copies of the above song were printed by Mrs. Angus about the year 1795. It was said to have been written by the late Mr.
James Davidson, attorney, author of a poem ent.i.tled, "Despair in Love, an Imprecatory Prayer;" which was also printed by Mrs. Angus--Sir Matthew White Ridley resigned his office of Magistrate about this time, observing, that "Clayton _up_ stairs, and Clayton _down_ stairs will never do."
NEWCASTLE LANDLORDS.--1834.
Kind friends and acquaintance, attention I claim, While a few jolly Landlord, in this town, I name; In alphabet order my song it is penn"d, And I hope, for joke"s sake, it will never offend.
CHORUS.
Then hey for good drinking, It keeps us from thinking, We all love a drop in our turn.
_A_ stands for Armfield, a good hearty blade, Tho" he"s left the Nag"s Head, still follows his trade; At the foot of the Market you"ll find his new shop, Where many an old friend still calls in for a drop.
_B_ stands for Burns, of the Theatre-square; She"s an orderly woman--good drink is sold there; If I wanted a wife, I should readily choose This amiable widow to govern my house.
_C_ stands for Cant, sign of the Blue Bell, Who keeps a good house, and good porter doth sell: Quarrelling or fighting is there seldom seen,-- She"s a canty old widow, but rather too keen.
_D_ for Dixon, who once kept the Unicorn--Ho!
And _D_ stands for Dixon, White Hart, you well know; Then there"s Dixon, Quayside, just a little way down-- Were the three fattest landlords in all the whole town.
_E_ stands for Eggleton, Fighting c.o.c.ks Inn, Tho" old, took a young wife, and thought it no sin; _F_ for Finlay, his shop"s corner of Pudding-chare, And good wine and spirits you"ll always get there.
_G_ for Gibson, the Blue-posts, in Pilgrim-street, Where a few jolly souls oft for harmony meet; _H_ for Hackworth, in Cowgate, Grey Bull is the sign-- Only taste his good ale--faith, you"ll say it"s divine.
_H_ stands for Heron, the sign of the c.o.c.k; _H_ for Hall, near Nuns" Gate--keeps a snug oyster-shop; _H_ stands for Horn, and he"s done very weal, Since he bother-d the heart of sly Mrs. Neil.
_I_ stands for Inns--we"ve the best in the north-- There"s the King"s Head, the Queen"s Head, the George, and the Turf, The Old Crown and Thistle, and Miller"s, Half Moon, Well known to the trav"lers who frequent the town.
_K_ stands for Kitchen, h.e.l.l"s Kitchen "twas nam"d, And long for good ale and good spree has been fam"d; In each parlour, in vestry, or kitchen you"ll find The beer-drawer, Mary, obliging and kind.
_L_ stands for Larkin--he"s left the Black Boy, Once fam"d for _Patlanders_ and true Irish joy; On the Scotchwood New Road a house he has ta"en, Where I hope the old soul will get forward again.
_M_ stands for Mitford--he kept the North Pole, Just over the Leazes--a dull-looking hole; Now our favourite poet lives at Head of the Side-- Here"s success to his muse--long may she preside.
_N_ stands for Newton, sign of the Dolphin, Who the old house pull"d down, built it up like an inn; They say he found gold--how much I can"t tell; But never mind that, he"s done wonderful well.
_O_ stands for Orton--he keeps the Burnt House, Once fam"d for the Knights of the Thimble and Goose; And _O_ stands for Ormston, at Pandon--O rare!-- Temptation enough for young men that go there!
_P_ stands for Pace, sign of the White Swan, Who, for to oblige, will do all that he can; A convenient house, when you marketing make, To pop in and indulge yourself with a beef-steak.
_R_ stands for Ridley and Reed, you all know, And _R_ stands for Richardson, all in a row; First, Three Tuns, the Sun, and the Old Rose & Crown, And their ale"s good as any at that part of town.
_S_ for Sayer"s, Nag"s Head, he keeps good mountain-dew,-- Only taste it, you"ll find what I tell you is true; _S_ for Stokoe, wine-merchant, foot of St. John"s Lane; For good stuff and good measure we"ll never complain.
_T_ for Teasdale, the Phoenix, a house fam"d for flip-- _T_ for Teasdale who once kept the sign of the Ship; And _W_ for Wylam, a place more fam"d still-- Sure you all know the Custom-house on the Sandhill.