Geordie Day

The Blaydon Races Geordie Ridley (1862)

Aw went to Blaydon Races, 'twas on the ninth of Joon
Eiteen hundred an' sixty-two, on a summer's efternoon
Aw tyuk the 'bus frae Balmbra's, an' she wis heavy laden
Away we went alang Collingwood Street, that's on the road to Blaydon.

Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin'
Passin the folks alang the road just as they wor stannin'
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces
Gannin alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.

We flew past Airmstrang's factory, and up to the "Robin Adair"
Just gannin' doon te the railway bridge, the 'bus wheel flew off there.
The lasses lost their crinolines, an' the veils that hide their faces
Ah got two black eyes an' a brokken nose in gan te Blaydon Races.

When we gat the wheel put on away we went agyen
But them that had their noses broke they cam back ower hyem
Sum went to the Dispensary an' uthers to Doctor Gibbses
An' sum sought out the Infirmary to mend their broken ribses.

Noo when we gat to Paradise thor wes bonny gam begun
Thor was fower-an-twenty on the 'bus, man, hoo they danced an' sung
They called on me to sing a sang, ah sung them "Paddy Fagan"
Ah danced a jig an' swung my twig that day ah went to Blaydon.

We flew across the Chain Bridge reet into Blaydon toon
The bellman he was callin' there, they call him Jackie Broon
Aw saw him talkin' to sum cheps, an' them he was pursuadin'
To gan an' see Geordy Ridley's concert in the Mechanics' Haal at Blaydon.

The rain it poor'd aal the day an' myed the groons quite muddy
Coffy Johnny had a white hat on - they war shootin' "Whe stole the cuddy!"
There wes spice stalls an' munkey shows an' aud wives selling ciders
An' a chep wiv a hapenny roond aboot, shootin' "Noo, me boys, for riders."