Читать книгу The Newcastle Song Book; or, Tyne-Side Songster - Various - Страница 23

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Not long ago, a fray in Shields

And Sunderland began,

'Tween the Seamen and Ship-owners,

How their vessels they should man;

But the Owners stiff, to them were deaf,

Which made the Seamen for to grumble,

For our Tyne Cossacks they soon did send,

The haughty pride of Jack to humble.

Whack row de dow, &c.

A letter being sent, they were

Call'd out without delay;

But the Gen'ral thought he'd try their skill

Before they went away:

So round the Moor he made them scour,

Before him cut such wond'rous capers;

Their praise he sounded high and low,

In all the three Newcassel Papers.

Whack row de dow, &c.

He cries, My lads, you're qualified

To do such wond'rous feats,

That to Shields and Cleadon you must go,

To clear the lanes and streets;

Destroy all those who may oppose

The ships from sailing down the river,

And then our Prince will sure commend

Your deeds in arms, my boys, so clever.

Whack row de dow, &c.

The Butcher cries, if we begin,

We'll surely kill and slay;

The Tanner swore they'd tan their hides,

Before they came away;

A Tailor next, with fear perplext,

Said, he should like no other station,

Than to be the Doctor's waiting man,

If sanction'd by the Corporation.

Whack row de dow, &c.

To Shields they got, tho' much fatigued,

Upon their worn-out hacks,

Some cried, 'The Polish Lancers come!'

And others, 'Tyne's Cossacks!'

By some mishap, the Farrier's cap

Blew off, but met with coolish treatment,

Into a huckster's shop it went—

Now Martin's cap's a tatie beatment.

Whack row de dow, &c.

For several weeks they rode about,

Like poachers seeking game;

The Marines so bold, as I am told,

Had better sight than them;

For every boat that was afloat,

They seiz'd upon with mad-like fury,

And to the bottom sent them straight,

Not asking either Judge or Jury.

Whack row de dow, &c.

The deed was done by this effort,

All opposition gone,

The ardour of the heroes cool'd,

'Cause they were lookers on:

Odsmash! says yen, if e'er agyen

There's ony mair au'd boats to smatter,

We'll hev horses that's web-footed, then

We'll fight byeth on the land and watter.

Whack row de dow, &c.

Now should our Tyne Cossacks e'er have

To face their enemies,

They'll boldly meet them on the land,

Or on the stormy seas.

While the farmers sing, that they, next spring,

At spreading dung will ne'er be idle:

So—success to these Invincibles,

Their long swords, sadle, bridle.

Whack row de dow, &c.