“Byker Hill”
Alternate titles:
“Byker Hill and Walker Shore”
Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1812 (John Bell, "Rhymes of Northern Bards")
Found in: Britain(England(North))
Description
Dance tune with sketchy narrative; singer's wife sits up late drinking. Singer asks her to return home (bringing the beer). He also tells of working in Walker Pit and the poor wages for coal-cutters, singing ironically "Walker Pit's done well by me."
Long description
Usually a dance tune (in 2-2-2-3 time!), but with sketchy narrative; singer's wife sits up late drinking, neglecting home and family. Singer pleads with her to return home (but to bring the beer with her). He also tells of working in Walker Pit and the poor wages for coal-cutters, singing ironically "Walker Pit's done well by me," and a verse of "Geordie Charlton he had a pig/He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig"
Cross references
- cf. "My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up" (tune)
- cf. "Elslie Marley" (tune)
Recordings
- A. L. Lloyd, "Walker Shore and Byker Hill" (on Lloyd1); "Walker Hill and Byker Shore" (on Lloyd3)
References
- DT, BYKERHIL*
- Roud #3488
- BI, DTbykerh
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008
by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.