Lyr Add: Byker Hill

Subject: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 12:54 PM

I have an extra (last) verse to this one . Not 100% sure of lyric so would appreciate any crrections.

The collier he gets one and six, the shotman he gets half a crown,the overman gets three and fourpence, just for riding up and down.

One and six == One shilling and sixpence pre decimal sterling
Half a crown -- Two shillings and sixpence p d s
Three and Fourpence == Three shillings and fourpence p d s

Twelve pence to shilling, twenty shillings to a pound.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 12:58 PM

My memory goes something like

the poor coal cutter gets a shilling
The deputy gets half a crown
The overman gets...


The memory of money gets a bit vague there

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 01:15 PM

See Byker Hill: background info anyone?, where this is quoted twice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 01:29 PM

John Bell, 1812, "Rhymes of Northern Bards." Title also Walker Shore (or Hill) and Byker Hill. Recorded by A. L. Lloyd. Anyone have this recording? (Trad. Ballad Index). Words by Martin Carthy are here: Byker Hill

coal carter gets a shilling
deputy gets half a crown
overman gets five and sixpence just for riding up and down

other versions vary.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 01:34 PM

Thanks Gents -- Didnt look in the forum, only in Digitrad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 01:46 PM

Information in the Forum is now so far ahead of the DT that a search of the latter alone is pointless. Often, errors and omissions in the DT are corrected many times in discussions before being incorporated. The texts recorded by Carthy and Lloyd are posted in the thread I referred to; the latter by me, taken from Lloyd's recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: open mike
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 02:02 PM

i have to say that there is one line is this song
something about hitting a pig in the head with a shovel
to make it dance a jig or something...repulsive!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 03:06 PM

The main thread on this song (3265, linked by Malcolm Douglas, above) cut-off in July 01, over two years ago. Since then, some websites have been changed and new ones popped up.
The Martin Carthy link I gave above provides the sleeve notes to not only "Byker Hill," but the other songs on the Carthy album with that title.

Have to agree that the version in the DT is poor.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Byker Hill
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 03:09 PM

Geordie Johnson (? I'm doing this from memory) had a pig
he hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
all the way to Walker shore
To the tune of Elsie Marley

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I closed this thread in an attempt to avoid splitting the discussion. Please post here (click) or in one of the related threads listed in the crosslinks toward the top of this page.
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-