“Canny Newcastle”

Description

"'Bout Lunnon aw'd heard sec wonderful spokes, That the streets were a' covered wi' guineas." The singer describes the sights in London, mentions seeing King George, recalls being robbed, and declares he likes his home better

Supplemental text

Canny Newcastle
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Stokoe/Reay, Songs and Ballads of Northern England, pp. 43-45.

'Bout Lunnon aw'd heard sec wonderful spokes,
  That the streets were a' covered wi' guineas;
The houses se fine, sec grandees the folks,
  Te them huz i' the North were but ninnies.
But aw fund my-sel blonk'd when to Lunnun aw gat,
  The folks they a' luck'd wishy-washy;
For gould ye may howk till ye're blind as a bat,
  For their streets are like wors -- brave and blashy.

    'Bout Lunnon, then, divn't ye mak' sic a rout,
      There's nowse there ma winkers to dazzle!
    For a' the fine things ye are gobbin about
      We can marra' iv canny Newcassel.

(8 additional stanzas)

Notes

Stokoe/Reay calls this song by two different names: The first page labels it "Canny Newcastle" at the head; the name at the top of the complete text is "Canny Newcassel," in the chorus the town is spelled "Newcassel," and the end notes file it as "Canny Newcassel." - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "The Mountains of Mourne" (plot)

References

1. Stokoe/Reay, pp. 43-45, "Canny Newcassel" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST StoR043 (Partial)
3. Roud #3060
4. BI, StoR043