Yorkshire Dialect Poems Part 21

Here we coom at oor toon-end, A pint o' yal an' a croon to spend.

Here we coom as t.i.te as nip(1) An' niver flang ower(2) but yance iv a grip.(3)

1. Very quickly. 2. Tumbled. 3. Ditch.

Weel bun' an' better shorn Is Mr. Readheead's corn.

We have her, we have her, As fast as a feather.

Hip, hip, hurrah!

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

John Metcalfe has gitten all shorn an' mawn, All but a few standards an' a bit o' lowse corn.

We have her, we have her, Fast i' a tether Coom help us to hod her.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Blest be t' day that Christ was born, For we've getten t' mell o' t' farmer's corn.

It's weel bun', but better shorn.

Mell! Shout, lads, Mell!

Guy Fawkes Day

A Stick and a stake, For King James's sake.

Please give us a coil,(1) a coil.

1. Coal.

Awd Grimey sits upon yon hill, As black as onny awd craw.

He's gitten on his lang grey coat Wi' b.u.t.tons doon afoor.

He's gitten on his lang grey coat Wi' b.u.t.tons doon afoor.

Christmas

I wish you a merry Kessenmas an' a happy New Year, A pokeful o' money an' a cellar-full o' beer.

A good fat pig an' a new-cauven coo; Good maisther an' misthress, hoo do you do?

Cleveland Christmas Song(1)

G.o.d rist you merry, gentlemen, Let nothin' you dismay, Remember Christ oor Saviour Was born o' Kessmas day, To seave wer sowls fra Sattan's power; Lang taam we've gean astray.

This brings tidin's o' comfort an' joy.

Noo stright they went to Bethlehem, Wheer oor sweet Saviour lay; They fan' him iv a manger, Wheer oxen fed on hay, To seave wer sowls fra Sattan's power; Lang taam we've gean astray.

This brings tidin's o' comfort an' joy.

G.o.d bliss t' maister o' this hoose, An' t' mistress also, An' all your laatle childeren That roond your teable go; An' all your kith an' kindered, That dwell beath far an' near; An' I wish you a Merry Kessamas An' a Happy New Year.

1. From Mrs. Tweddell's Rhymes and Sketches, p. 14.

A Christmas Wa.s.sail(1)

Here we coom a-wessellin(2) Among the leaves so green, An' here we coom a-wanderin'

So fair as to be seen.

Chorus- An' to your' wessel An' to jolly wessel, Love an' joy be to you An' to your wessel-tree.

The wessel-bob(3) is made O' rosemary tree, An' so is your beer O' the best barley.

An' to your wessel, etc.

Weare not beggars' childeren That begs from door to door, But we are neighbours' childeren That has been here before.

An' to your wessel, etc.

We have got a little purse Made i' ratchin(4) leather skin, An' we want a little money To line it well within.

An' to your wessel, etc.

Bring us out your table An' spread it wi' a cloth; Bring us out your mouldy cheese Likewise your Christmas loaf.

An' to your wessel, etc.

G.o.d bless the master o' this house, Likewise the mistress too; An' all the little childeren That round the table go.

An' to your wessel, etc.

Good master an' good' misteress, While you're sittin' by the fire Pray, think of us poor childeren That's wanderin' i' the mire.

An' to your wessel, etc.

1. From Easther and Lees, Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary (English Dialect Society Publications, vol. 39, pp. xvii.-xviii).

2. Wa.s.sailing. 3. Wa.s.sail-bough. 4. Urchin, hedgehog.