Greetings-
To start things off I thought it would be good to draw attention to a great day to use in order to celebrate the folk music of the region.
Blaydon Races Day 9th of June
It celebrates a real song, about a real race day, real people written by Geordie Ridley who was once imself a miner.
Roll out the music, new and old from the region and explore regional foods.
Here is a link to the facebook event I am holding.
Celebrate Blaydon Races Day- the Folklore the Broon and the Toon
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BLAYDON RACES.
ReplyDeleteTune—"Brighton."
1. 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.
CHORUS: O lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
2. 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 off, an' the veils that hide their faces,
An' aw got two black eyes an' a broken nose in gan te Blaydon Races.
3. 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 Gibbs,
An' sum sought out the Infirmary to mend their broken ribs.
4. Noo when we gat to Paradise thor wes bonny gam begun;
Thor wes fower-and-twenty on the 'bus, man, hoo they danced an' sung;
They called on me to sing a sang, aw sung them "Paddy Fagan,"
Aw danced a jig an' swung my twig that day aw went to Blaydon.
5. We flew across the Chain Bridge reet into Blaydon toon,
The bellman he was callin' there—they call him Jackey Brown;
Aw saw him talkin' to sum cheps, an' them he was pursuadin'
To gan an' see Geordy Ridley's concert in the Mechanics' Hall at Blaydon.
6. The rain it poor'd aw 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 happeny roond aboot shootin' "Now, me boys, for riders."
Ridley. Author's Manuscript, 1862.
This is a great study of the geography mentioned in the song and contains biographical information as well
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lhi.org.uk/docs/Heritage_Trail.pdf
The Races mentioned in song before the famous song was written:
ReplyDeleteExerpt from: WINLATON HOPPING.
BY JOHN LENNARD.
in:A Collection of Songs, Comic, Satirical and and descriptive, ....T. Thompson, 1827.
Let not this scene confound ye-o ;
At Winship's door might ye explore
The world a' running round ye-o:
Blithe boys and girls, on horse an' chair,
Flew round, without e'er atopping-o;
Sure Blaydon Races can't compare
With Winlaton fam'd Hopping-o.
Tal, lal, &c.