A bit of daftness on a Friday night, A Lang time ago!! In the place where I grew up, Houses were for posh people!! Wors was always a hoose, And now and again we sometimes had an unwanted guest!! A little fower legged little broon bugger, Not a mouse but a moose. Am sure when I was trying to get asleep in Foreshift!! They must hev been having futbaal matches with the black clocks!! Scuttlin aboot on the oilcloth floor, Me Mutha tried all sorts of things to usher them oot through the door. Another thing what struck me as odd,!! Nobody kept Chickens doon the garden it was a always hens!! And their little hooses were called crees, Nivva called pens. Now netty,s folks who fancied themselves as the store manager!! Referred to them as Loo,s. Silly buggers a thowt!! ivvrybody Knaas, yiv got to gan ower the street, For number ones and two's, Now a was gannin to say a rude word there!! But just lets say it rhymes with bright!! Didn't feel proppa saying it on a Friday night. Credit was always named tick!! When yor Mutha tidied you up and wiped your face with a bit spit on her hanky, It was always a lick. To me as weel as everybody else , a flea was a lop!! Upahight meant on top!! And now and again the school Norse, Would look through your hair for lice, Though I admit there was one or two in my class, Where she had to look twice. Now head lice were referred to as .Dickies, Nee smut now!! If your thinkin aboot something else, So I'll give it a miss before it gets a little bit tricky, Lastly, My Muthas make up, Was one red lipstick, not blusher, but rouge, And some white pooda she dabbed on her face, When she went to the pigeon supper with wor aad Chep, Just to keep up with the rest of the Wimminly race.
A hate coming here on a Monday!! The Coalman stud revving the engine at the top of the street!! Before he went doon, He gave a toot and a hoot!! Cos he knew on a Monday, aal the wives would have the weshin hingin oot!! Strung ower the road from pantries to the Nettys !!! All the pit lasses, the Hannah,s the Jinnies, and one or two Bettys. The forst one came runnin oot!! She didn't haff hoy him a hacky look!! That's a clivvor start he thowt!!! Strite away am in one black book. Howay lasses man!!a knaa your weshins lovely and white!! But if I go doon there now!!! You'll aal be caalin is warse than shite. It's nee gud grumblin am just deeing me job!! So you might as well aal howld your gob. I'll give you five minutes to clear the road!! And a might as well tell you, it's nee gud hingin it oot again,, Cos it winnit be lang til am back with another load. There waz plenty of swearing, mutterings and scuttlins aal doon the Raa. Like little angry red cheeked mooses!! With pinnies on , taking the washing back in !! To their little hooses. By man he thowt!! A think I hate weshin day Mondays warse than them!! He managed a little wry smile as he took a drag on a woodbine, Nivvor mind another two oors,he thought. I'll be heading yem.
A divvent think them floo-ers is ganna Dee any gud marra?! After she's finished with you, I'll have to put you in a Barra!! The morn if we go to,the club,, And to be honest a cannit see hor giving you a sub. You might as well hoy yorself upon her morcy!! and plead guilty to hevvin ower much beer! But if yor expect in me to back you up!! You can bugger off Marra , Am not gannin anyway near. Cos av seen her before when she gets her dander up, She starts swearing and starts hoying things!! aboot, The last time she clipped you with brum , and chucked some crockery!! You got the saaser , and aa got hit in the heed with the cup.
A cannit remember!! You seem familiar Hinny!! But I cannit put a name to the face, Howld on a minute now, Cos your names on the tip of me tongue, A think I knew you when aah was young . No am sorry it's just out of reach, And I went and forgotten what I was gannin to say, Might try the morn again , another day. You seem to know me cos you keep saying some names, What's that your sayin ,? Jack or Jimmy!! What is it? Or are we just playing games. You seem to like is!! Cos you keep combing me hair, Bliddy he'll!! I wish a cud remember a little bit Mair. And you'll hev to excuse me if sometimes, I divvent seem to hear what you say!! Perhaps the morn might be a bit better day. A knaa you must love is!! or you wudnt keep coming back, To see this lad called Jimmy or Jack. Sometimes a even see a lad in the mirror!! A ask him questions!! but he nivvor speaks back. But he doesn't knaa the answers you see!! He's a little bit like me, Yis you seem familiar Hinny, But sometimes you seem a little bit sad, Sometimes ,not very often, somewhere inside of me!, A seem to remember a Brother, the best one I had. But I still cannit remember a name, A wished a wasn't playing this silly owld game A daft one!, Mutha they're here again. Mary just popped up the stairs, Am just gannin to see if the bairns aalright. I winnit be a minute, Just gannin to say gudnight!! She opened the door, softly went in, The bairn was at the window,!! just looking at the night, Whey what's the matter little,n asked Mary?? What are you looking for? what can you see, It's aalright Mam!! Am just waving at me friends up there, Them there in the tree, Look man they're waving back at me!! Mary give a little smile, Cos she cud remember when!! A canny few years ago now, she knew a little Lass, Stood looking oot the same window, with friends the same as them, Whey that's champion!! but now that you've waved your Gudbyes, I'll draw the cortins, and tidy this up, you hop into bed, By the time she had dun that, the bairn was already asleep, There wasn't a peep!! A guess her little pals had sneaked in, and hoyed tired sand in her eyes. Mary left the room!! but cudnt help mouthing the words, Just for the sake of old times of course!! Same time the morn my little old friends, Cannit think of a better way, To see how the day ends.
A daft one from the middle of the night, With help from the whippet!! If one day , There shud be a heaven for me!! A divvent want harps and fluffy white white clouds, When they've hoyed off the shrouds!! I want a heaven that's green, With the grass rippling with the breeze, Where I was fully at ease With sunny days, and the bords singing a welcome for me, And a might even catch a glimpse, Of a little lad, who grew up to be me. If I did A cudnt keep me gob shut, And put him on the right path on one two things. Just in case he ivva came back again, and tell him Bonny Lad, Aal Angels divvent hev wings, Sometimes you divvent aalways see them!! But they're there when your in trouble, And you come out the dark, The funny thing is, they don't leave a touch or a mark, Just a little feeling that's hidden away!! That pops up now and again!! Inside of your heart. I wished one of these had seen me when aa was a lad!! I cud hev avoided all sorts of mistakes, Though It would be nice when am gone to be thowt of, By he was a right canny lad
Cammus!! Right said me Mutha!! I've med plenty of sandwiches and filled them with spam! But what aboot me Mutha, Yi Knaa a like jam. It's aalright Bonny lad, keep yor hat on a knaa that, I've made some with jam. , I've puttin some up, A big flask of tea ,And plenty of pop for ye lot to sup. Now have yi got everything?? She asked as we went out the door! Your pocket money your pails and your shulls, And when we get there divvent hoy the crusts away, For them bliddy gulls. So with these warnings taken on-board, Taken and hord. The sivvintry three came, and we ushered onboard. We didn't need much us kids, Just some sand and a sea. We had a gud day, and we were yem after tea. That night we went to bed happy but tired , After such a good day, But when I was little,,!! Cammus , It seemed such a bliddy Lang way.
A knew the bugger was giggling. Jack and Mary, were both sitting doon, Either side of the fire, in the sittin room. Jack what day is Christmas ?? this year Mary asked, Whey lets see hinny , came the voice from behind the Sunday Post,!! Unless they've changed the date it will be December! Same as last year if aa remember. No man!! said Mary, what day is it? Yi knaa what I mean, Now divvent be clivvor! So I'll spell it oot for you, what day of the week is it,when Santy has been. By now she was getting het under the collar and the steam was starting to come out of her ears! She had knaan this bugger for too many years. The paper was shaking, he was pleased with his wit! And what's more Mary knew he was giggling behind it. Now a knaa what your game is .Bonny lad!!! You've lost aal your money doon at the Chute, You've got nowt in your pocket and yi want to go oot!! Now a might find a way of giving yi a sub, And yi can bugger off away to the club. So I'll ask one more time, if that brain of yours is working, and you can recall, What day of the week does Christmas fall. On hearing this!!the paper was quickly put doon, With visions of a pint in the bar, He was ower the moon!! It's on a Saturday Mary, A was just hevvin a joke with you yi knaa, For ye a would do owt, Whey am pleased you think like that aboot is Bonny lad!! said Mary, But am hevvin a little joke with you this time Jack!! Yid Betta pick the paper up again! Cos for your bliddy impitince yor onto nowt, A little bit lost!! A thowt yi said , this was the way yem Sid!! Yis Jack Marra, I knaa I did!! But it's torned that bliddy foggy, Am not to sure where we are here. And it didn't help drinking them six or sivvin pints of best beer. Now hold on forra minute til we hev a think!! Where did we have that last sodd,n drink.?? Howay man !! was it the pub or the club?? He might as well hev been Speakin to himself!! Jack had wrapped himsel around the nearest lamp post!! Nee fit state to go any farther, he had given up the ghost!! Howldin on for dear life!! Aal he cud think , when aa get yem, Am gannin to get some stick off that bliddy wife. The best part aboot it, him and Sid , Had just went oot forra packet of tabs and a loaf of bread,!! Did they get them? divvent be daft they nivva did, The club lights were winking at them so they went there instead. Yis temptation is a funny marra!! lost in the fog, And warse for the beer, Bugger me Jack !! Sid said, A coulda sworn my hoose was doon this Raa here
A bit sharp but nivvor mind. Just a ponder aboot Christmas. Helped oot by a glass of Sloe gin!! and its went strite to the tip pf my pen. It's coming up to Christmas again on here, And its a bit ower soon to wish yi a happy New year. So I would say in advance!! Though at times the glass seems haff empty, It's really haff full, And on one or two dark days, it's not really, Mebbies the merest of dull. And for all of you oot there, who've had a terrible year, Am sorry Hinny, I hope your family and friends surround you, And guide you to, a contented New year. They say the world would be lovely if we got everything we ever wanted. But I hev my doots aboot that, It would just make us all the more !! Complacent and tek things for granted. I was always quite satisfied with happiness, contentment, And its a bliddy gud ointment,! For mending a bit of dissapointment, So anyways am just trying to say, in a cack handed way, Although am just a name on the bottom of a picture or poem, I recognise a canny few names on here, And I feel like I know em, It's a bit sharp Hinny, But I wish each one of you, an absolutely happy Christmas,!! Though there's one or two that we must miss. Me I'm not particular aboot presents any more, and though I'll be getting some, I'd be just as happy with a box full of bugger all. So it doesn't really matter if they're big or small. Besides they take nee wrapping up, At Christmas,My family is aal I ever needed or wanted, I think over the years, I've had a full cup. Two lovely lasses, three including my wife, I think I must hev been blessed in the path of my life. If yi love them, you'll keep keep pictures in your mind !forever. Each Christmas,fond memories. Be it bairns ,a husband, a wife.
A Mothers cures, Simple little things, remember them yet!! As the years endures. It was amazing,!! Jus how much a bit of spit on the corner of a hanky, your Mothers, Cud mend aal sorts of hort, A knaa it was gud for cleaning the dort off, and wiping tears. And nowt better for curing knee grazing. Now am not saying Mothers cared more then !! Nowt of the sort. Remember when you wor under the weather? Feeling billious , and a canny bit poorly. And she was up and Doon the the stairs, a thoosand times, Wiping your face, and kissin your brow hourly, There was always a bottle of Lucozade sent up from the Store, On the cheble at the side of your bed!! A knaa you divvent want to eat owt Bonny lad,Just sip that instead. I must mention calamine lotion, Which was gud for the sunburn , When we went to the ocean. And when there was coughing and sneezing, Wiping of beaks, and a little bit wheezing, She slapped Vicks on your chest, Now if your nee better the morn, Am sending for the Doctor!! Aye a think that's the best. Stuck for gannin to the netty!! It was a big bliddy spoonful of cod liver oil. And I didn't like the look of that Kaolin poultice!! She put on wor young,ns. Boil, Now me Fatha had his own remedy!! A beaten up egg in a full glass of whisky!., By a thought !! It must be bliddy gud stuff, When I hord me Mother telling the neighbour, Lily he's getting nee more of that!! He's getting too frisky. Mind aal these things did exactly nee gud, If they weren't administered withoot a Mothers love, And am sure you wud do the same,if you cud
To all the people out there, Who've got Mothers, lost Mothers!! I'm sure they will be smiling, and pleased You've remembered today! And haven't forgot,, To remember them on this Mothers day, A knaa I loved mine a lot, What more can I say, And though she's been gone for a canny few years! I'm gratefull that I had a Mother who loved me, Through all the good times, the sad times, Through all the happiness and through any tears. Would I have changed her for another?? Divvent be daft, Cos I loved her you see, Just as much as she loved me.
A puffed and I huffed, But still cudnt get a tune , oot of this floot! Aal I cud get waz a bit of a toot, It must hev been cos a wasn't very tall,!! Cos av nivvor been musical at aal. Me Marta wasn't very gud either, But at least he looked the part!! Though it sounded like more of a !!!??? Ha a bet yi thowt I was gannin to say fart,!!! Actually this tune went aal the way up to twenty,!!! Not the pop charts!!!Victoria Raa I mean, Til the locals towld us to bugger off, Bonny lads we've hord aboot plenty. Sadly, the lad with me in this photo Bob, !! He left us too soon!! If he had seen this photo, he wud hev been ower the moon, Aal I can say Bob Marra,!! We did a bliddy gud job. And I hev to admit, for a flootist, I wasn't dressed posh, Me troosas stuffed in my socks, And a comic tucked under a belt, The clothes were clean!! if yi knaa what I mean!! And although me Mutha did her best,bless her,, Am sorry to say six kids were hard to keep, When there wasn't much dosh .
Another long lost bairn captured on my I pad. Sometimes when am sitting on a dark night As quiet as a moose!! A cud swear I cud hear, This lad gannin past wor hoose. And sometimes I think I can hear The soond of a clanking hobnailed boot. And I hev a peep oot the cortins!! Just in case am right, And there's a Pit lad gannin yem with his face as black as soot. And sometimes a cud swear I cud hear His wife at the tap doon the street,filling a pail full of wettor. And sometimes I imagine hor saying, Am pleased yor yem bonny lad. Am just filling the boiler, Once ye' ve had a bath , am sure you'll feel a canny bit better. And sometimes yit in the middle of the night, I wake up , and think, buggar I' ve slept through the alarm. Then reality hits!! And gan back to sleep thinking, I' ll just hev this shift off. Efter aal them years, it'll do no harm
An ordinary Lad, Just one or two things aboot the last day. I felt a bit funny , a bit of a flutter like!! As I made me way into the pit baths For one more time, A bit of a sad end really, after nearly fowty years doon a mine. I had finished me shift a little bit sharp!! A was just making sure for the sake of two hours, I wudn' t end up playing a harp. And it seemed odd!! me just by myself in the showers, Watchin aal them years run away with the dirt doon the plughole beside my feet. It's a lang time forty years!! But I cudn' t make me mind up to be happy, Or let loose one or two tears. I went yem that day a little bit black. Cos there wasn't beside me a marra to ask!! That night wor lass weshed the last of fowty years off my back. I went across to the offices, to put my cross On the bit of paper , shoved across for me me to sign. To make it official like!! The end of the line. What hort me the most, There wasn't one gaffer there for a shake of the hand or a wish for the best! My opinions of gaffers, were quick gannin west. But I hev to say at the last minute when I went for the door,, A canny lad who had worked at Ashington, Powked oot his hand for a genuine shake!! That simple gesture had lifted me spirits, A little bit more.
Bliddy hell, just thought on its my birthday next week!! fifty six and a little extra which am keeping to myself. Feel the same on the inside, But when I look in the mirror there's an impitent old Chep looks back at me, A wudnt care but sometimes he's got the nerve to sometimes give is a wink You hevvint got much hair you bugger now, that's what I think, Sod it!! Ivvryone gets aad, Am thinkin !! When am away to do me one or dishes, as am looking oot the window, Having another pot of tea that am drinkin.
An owld Pitman was just dreaming. I was dreaming last night,!! I had an unexpected visitor when somebody came to see me, When aa waz fast asleep. I was just aboot finished at counting the sheep. It was a nice old wummin , I had the window open , so I reckoned she had come in with the mist!! She leant her head forward, to give is a kiss. A knaa I noticed the silver strands in her auburn hair, And the sparkly things Dancin aboot in hor eyes. This owld Pitman, he wasn't haff surprised. To see his Mother sitting Doon on the side of his bed, Putting a hand out and stroking his head. A reckoned she had thowt I had been worried aboot things lately, About this and that, But I haven't so I divvent knaa what. She just spoke the once to me!! Son am always beside you, and watch how your gannin every day, I just wanted to say, I just wanted to tell you, I knaa your getting aad!! So your Mother thowt she had better call in and tell you, In my eyes it disn't matter how aad you are, Your forriva my little Lad. She gave me a smile and went oot in the mist,!! Now a wasn't sure if it was real or not. But I Cudnt stop me hand gannin up , To the spot,I thowt she had kissed. I must hev fell back to sleep after that, Cos I Cudnt see any more sheep.
Another bit of colouring in to pass the time away. Gudnight Bonny Lass!! I walked her home from the dance to the end of the street, And under the corner end light I gave her a kiss, Such a Bonny little Miss!! A Lang time ago now, but a remember it was nice, It must hev been, Cos I kissed her more than the twice. And didn't care a bugger if the world cud see, That Bonny little lass and me. It's been said that love is blind, Of course it is!! It's the very best kind.
For a special lad a knew at this time of year, Perfectly ok if it's taken off. I knew a little Lad!! From the day he was delivered, til the day he died. Now a knaa big owld Pitmen divvent do this, After I laid me little Bruvva,to rest, His big bliddy Brother went yem, and sat Doon and cried. He was born different to myself And sister, And fower other brothers, Marked Doon to be different to aal of the others. Them days!! Words describing little bairns like him were cruel, A Mongol, an idiot, or simply a fool. I fund my self correcting people for fifty odd years!., But sadly a canny few were just ignorant it appears. My answer to these was , A divvent knaa what your talking aboot, he,s nen of these things!! My little Bruv, wor Kevin is Downs. A few chromosomes less, he cud hev been brilliant, A man of renown. But in my little book he was always brilliant,, my little bruv. I suppose you've got to put that one Doon, To brotherly love. Sadly efter me Mutha went!! He was put on sum sort of island aal by himself, And I was the only boat to get him back to the shore, Sometimes , I think although I loved my little Bruv, I cud hev tried harder, That little bit more
Christmas shopping, Bah , I've been spending like wildfire, A hord one wife say here's scattercash coming!! Cheeky mare, she must hev Knaan nine punds fowerty five gans neewhere , And isn't the price of sproots ridiculous?? So I picked three gud ones. At least the tetties were cheap. It's a gud job a divvent spend money like this ivvry week, It's not a nice sight seeing an aad man weep. Mind I did get a bit of a bonus, I was sittin ootside having a tab with me cap on the floor, One cheeky bugger said pity the poor! But nivvor mind I got fower pounds and ten pence loose change what people hoyed in , And that was withoot shakin a tin !! Whey hey!!!
A night before Xmas, a Lang time ago!! She cut a lonely figure!! the widow named Meggie, She looked like a little Moose, As she went over the road to the netty, Across the street from her little hoose. She went every night to light the paraffin lamp, The little one behind the seat. To keep the lead pipes warmed up with just a bit heat. That done she retraced her futsteps, there in the Snaa, Right back to the open back door. What have things come to she thowt?? As she went in, The hoose was completely silent, crept for a crackle off the fire, And one or two black clocks scuttling aboot on the floor. Meggie settled doon in the armchair she kept by the fire, Looked wistfully at the photo,s in frames, Lined up on the mantleshelf, Off by heart, She knew aal of their names,!., Brothers, Sisters, Aunts and Uncles, but alas nee bairns. In that respect, the Chep upstairs, had given her a miss. The one in the middle, of Geordie!! At the end of the day, she wud pick it up, Gudnight Bonny Lad, and give it a kiss. The next morning, To cut a Lang story short, She went ower to the netty to put out the flame!! Funny she thowt ! what's gannin on as she saw one or two neighbours keeking over their gates, What's the game, It's was a gud job she didn't need to pull her bloomers doon!! As she opened the door, There was boxes of presents piled up aal over the floor. She was dumbfoonded for a minute til she picked one up!! Read the little note on it!., Dear Meggie! nowt special JIST a little something!! we all hoyed in, Just to say thank you, for being a gud friend , When some of the times were hard and thin, For a canny few years!! After reading the little notes from the .Jim's, the .Bob's, the Mary's and Bettys . Poor little happy sad Meggie, Ran back over the road, Canny aad lass, cudnt find the door for the tears. Last night's clartin on!! Looks a nice place doesn't it?? A knaa it's a long way away!!, some nights you get there faster than others!! It's just called somewhere, In me dreams I find, Am often a visitor there. And the lights are a always on, So you cannit get lost, And you divvent need owt in youpocket to get in, Cos there isn't a fee, there isn't a cost. Though some nights the sides seem high and the road is steep, Lads and lasses,!! It aal depends how much you want to get there, And the memories you keep
Jack!! If I had owt in me pocket I wud have bought you a drink! I tapped wor lass for a lend!! But me feelings got hurt,! She said am a sink. Aye Harry I knaa what they're like, Tapped wor lass , Her reply!! Your on to nowt Bonny Lad, Bugger off , away on your bike. Yi see, wimmin dont understand we lads like to be oot,! But all they like are shops, and flitting aboot. Ynaa saidHarry they might like us a bit better, If we went to the church!! Don't even go there said his pal!! A once tried that And my feet wouldn't go into the porch. Never mind it's pay day the morn, We,'ll get toffed up and be in the club!! And if the turns nee gud!! We,'ll bugger off across the road, and give wor custom To the Red Lion Pub. Just me thinking for a bit!! Strite from the heart. Fifty years, away hinny, that's what I said, This August, since we were Wed. Eeh I know lad, I divvent knaa where they've went!! How quick they have sped! The years have melted like snow into weeks, And the weeks into seconds!! Am afraid Bonny Lad, time just crooked his finger, And old age beckons. Yis your right I replied,to my lovely lass of fifty years. Who was just sitting beside me smiling , a could see by the look on her face, She was remembering back. For a brief second,I remembered the first time, I asked her out!! And remembering I thowt, She was way too Bonny for for an ordinary lad like me, And when she said yis , and looked oot the bus window and waved at me back, Ah wasn't haff taken aback. After a minute she asked, do you remember when we started out,?? We had exactly nowt, We had a second hand bed, a sideboard, and a cooch, Which was ticked on, from doon at the store, Along with some green lino and some odds and sods more. We weren't very aad Y knaa, wor combined ages, Just added up to two score, And like everybody else, who went through fifty odd years, Yis there were trials, denials, and trust, cos this is a must, Lots of happiness, laughter and one or two tears, Just the ivvry day trials of life that the future defines, And when you care and think the world of someone , That's what marriage shud be, at least if your owt like me, After fifty odd years Bonny lass, Your just as lovely, just the same, A nivvor noticed the lines.
It's getting on for it again, My Armistice!! I would hev liked to have said, there were clear blue sky,s , but there wasn't . Cold and drizzly, November day, Nee leaves on the trees , they were all blown away. When it was time, the Vicar opened his bible, He took from it a faded letter, written in pencil not ink. Am not gannin to read you a sermon !! He said, I wud just like to read you this instead. From Billy!! Dear Mother, dear friend, just a few words from the war. Am keeping canny, and would like to see you Mother, But at the minute am a little tied up, but in any case, it's aboot two hundred miles too far. Thank you for the parcel you sent!! The mittens, the woodbines, the sweets. Forgive me French Mutha, but it's a most welcome change, From the shite the Army expects us to eat. How's my Fatha and the bairns?? I miss them!! Alas a cannit write wish you were here!! Cos it's b liddy awful Mutha, By I wish I cud be standing next to my Fatha, and having a beer. Please excuse the squiggly writing, It's hard when your using the stub of a pencil, using a candle for light, And the Jarmans are still hoying bombs ower trying to kill us, Even this this time of night. A divvent like to raise the subject Mother!! my very best friend. But if one of these days my life might end, Think fondly of your Billy Mutha, And now and again put a few flowers on his grave. And the time av got the time!! I just want to say to the both of you, Thank you for the love that you gave. The Vicar looked around and said, My words cud Nivvor follow them lads and lasses so let us pray. Remembering them all, The young, the old, the short, the tall. The bold the brave!! The lives that they gave, So let us pray Let us remember the loved one,s the lost ones, yours and mine, Who didn't get home for one more day,
It was fifty sivvin years past Easter, Since I left school, A lifetime away now, a different age!! Left school one week , The next one doon in a cage. I was hoyed oot of school ,so to speak, When they reckoned we cudnt learn any more. As long as we could read and write a bit, And cud count up to a score. Looking back , we were robbed of aboot three childhood years, But what's done is done!! It's nee gud now shedding any tears. I remember that day after the very last lesson!! The Teacher shooted oot the names of the ones who were gannin to leave, I couldnt get ower the fact when I saw one or two of the tough ones With a tear in the eye wud you believe. But I must say, they were mostly lasses, A knew that clivvor bugger in the front would!! The one with the glasses. We all went to the big school hall, The clever, the average the thick!! The short the tall. My Easter present that year was a piece of paper, Marked with an A, a B or even a C. But I was ower the moon there wasn't a D. I left school with just one tinge of regret, A waz nivvor clivvor enough to be a teacher's pet, Little did I know this would take me on a journey, It would last, some Fifty sivvin years!! The road was all hills,and humps, owt but smooth. But it rained happy dust most of the time, Just the odd one two tears, Still makes me smile , aboot a teacher's pet, Would I take the same road again?? You bliddy bet.
Ivvry night, There's a Blackbord on the very top branch of my big apple tree, He sings his heart oot, And I like to think he's singing ,especially for me. A divvent knaa what he's singing aboot, Or if the songs got a name, but I knaa it's got a beautiful sound, He sings it every night, When he sees me around. Mebbies he's thanking me for keeping him fed, Through the cold winter weeks!., Alang with his pals, The ones with the beaks. Or mebbies hes, sending me a message , sometimes it seems, Take care Bonny Lad , Yi might get a visit tonight in one of your dreams, But of aal the singer's in the garden , oot of all them I've hord, I have to award forst prize to my friend with the yella beak, That Bonny blackbord,
I worked for a time with mostly retired miners when I left Ellington, Wrote this for them. Sometimes I get lonely, By Hinny sometimes a get lonely!! I nivva thowt I waz, but lonely that's me, That's the way, it's turned oot to be. Cos I find mesel listening for your familiar tread. And look forward to shooting, Howay in man come inside., A friend so to speak, to share my daily bread. Am just content to have someone who understands, To be by my side. Just someone to share my cup!! And if I falter now and again, Put me on the right path Marra, to help me up. Just someone to listen to oft told tales of yester years, And the odd times I get emotional now and again, Marra, forgive the tears. And have patience when my memory sometimes fails. When I tell you these oft told tales. I just pray to the gud Lord it doesn't happen to me!! But just in case, I'll keep the kettle handy, and memories ready?! With a hand held oot,to say hello. Thankful forra friend I've come to know. It was cold, the trees were bare, It was November!! A crowd had gathered, A canny few there, The Cadets were standing , smart in Army suits, Feathered berets, Shiny boots. The Vicar put his hands up for silence, to get the attention, The pale Sun glancing off his spectacles, In winter reflection. His little black book in his hand, He knew it inside oot, by heart. But to describe such things, Where does one start?. How to remember the ones who didnt get yem. How do you find the right words to remember them? Or the lads who came home blinded, Came home lame, Who's lives were nivvor the same, Or the poor buggers who hear the cannons roar yet, The time theyre asleep,!! The ones who fight their demons yet, That's theirs forriva to keep, Bonny lads! who answered the call of England expects, We've just come here to pay our deepest respects. We won't forget, A field of red poppies, We remember you yet.
I was just thinkin aboot this, These last few years, I've seen the Ghost of Xmas past, Many times, he's took me back to , when aa was little or the bairns were small. When he's opened a door and entered into a familiar room, Where coloured tissue paper chains and tinsel decked the wall. And there's aaways a Xmas tree in the corner, Adorned with baubles and glittery things. Presents underneath , tied up with cellotape or string. And there's always a well worn fairy stuck on the top, Sometime in the past ,one of the kids had gettin the felt tips oot, And given her a grite big smile. Yis I've been back in that room , Once in a while. Sometimes the Ghost of Xmas past, torns the volume up. So a can hear them voices again, And sometimes I have Wettory eyes, When he draws the cortains so I can get a little look. At me and my brother's and sister playin ootside, when it was snowing or rain. And yis sometimes efter he's went, of course sometimes am left a little bit sad, Lookin back all them years ago, and the family I had. But am fortunate that he takes me back now and again. For one last little peep! Before I get back to dreaming, And trying to coont that last bliddy sheep
I was watching an owld programme on the telly last night!! Goodnight sweet heart, Funny that I thought, The very words that I say , At the close of my day. Cos l like to think that a sortin lass can hear me, And am sometimes convinced that she is near me. And she's saying gudnight once again Bonny Lad, But a canny few times, like this near Xmas, She's the first one I miss, So once in a while this lads gannin to bed, A little bit sad, Now a knaa for a fact!! If she cud read this, She would say, Howay man divvent be daft man!! Cos although she was little, she was as strite as a die, Ask anyone who knew her , they wud tell you, it isn't a lie. I would have to say in reply , Bonny lass as aalways , am doing the best that a can. And its a queer thing!! It's when loves went, that it hurts the most, It's when loves went, not when you've got it, It's when heaven sends that letter, The one that doesn't get lost in the post,
I was hunting aboot through old photo's and stuff today, Cards , and all kinds of stuff you mean to hoy oot but Nivvor get to doing it. With writing aboot cards and letters and things, It didn't, haff jog me memory! That Valentines used to bring. Now this one am on aboot, It was shoved quietly though wor door. A long time ago!! How many years ago,?? Whey that's for you to find oot! And me to know. It had a bunch of red roses on the front, It was nicely scented , But with me being a nosey buggar, I still Nivvor fund oot who had sent it. I must admit to get such a card,I was a canny bit flattered. I hid it in my drawer inside a book, And a kept getting it oot and hevvin a look!! After a few days it was lookin a little bit tattered. So I kept it hidden from wor young'ns eyes! Ye nivva knaa where true love lies. I narrowed it doon to three or four, But when I thought about me sister working across the wettor at Culpitts !! It was probably more. For three consequetive years another three!! Aal in the same writing, roses are red violets are blue!! Am not saying what was inside, But as to who sent a still hevvint a clue. Aal a can say now, Bonny lass whoever you are, if yor still oot there, thanks very much, And I really liked it you made me feel gud. When you wrote that card and decided to send. But am afraid bonny lass, This aad lads hearts been brokken too many times lately, It wud be too hard to mend.
I d forgotten aboot this picture, It's entitled Last pittle before bed, A remember Gloria saying yi cannit call it that man!! That's the words she said. So I replied, Bonny Lass of course I can!! It's the way I speak its me!! Nowt fancy aboot it, even the baldy tree. And if they divvent like it whey its just hard lines, After aal It's just a piece of paper, painted in a little bit, By a lad who works Doon the pit, Remembering fond past times. Last pittle before bed, I could hev picked a fancier name, But a liked that one better instead.
I remember!! About sixty two years ago I remember a kid gannin to school down the road!! He had a carrier bag!! In it was a show leek, a cabbage, a few carrots and of aal things a tin of fruit!!. It must hev been in October or the September, But it was that Lang ago now, a just cannit remember. It was the Harvest Festival that day in wor little school, And nee doot the Headmaster wud be waiting with his very best voice!! And make us lot sing, We plough the fields and scatter!! Like it or lump it we hadn't a choice, If we were in tune or not, it just didnt matter. And more than likely the big school Haal, Would be carpeted waal to waal in big bliddy show Leeks, With a sprinkling of cabbages, tetties, and carrots!! Enough to keep the needy and the weedy, gannin forra canny few weeks. Anyway there was this young,n hinging ootside beside the door, I felt sorry for him, cos he was shabbily dressed , Little as a waz,I reckoned he must hev been poor. So I asked , what's the matter young,n?? Am waiting til the Teachers aren't looking, cos I haven't fetched owt!!! He wiped his beak on the side of his cuff!! A thowt to myself, Alan divvent say owt more, that's enough. I fished in the carrier bag and shoved the tin of peaches or what ivva it was into his hand!! That smile that he surrendered!! It med is feel gud, that smile that he surrendered it med is feel grand. Happiness in a tin of co-op fruit!! He turned and went in, giving his beak another cursory wipe on the side of his cuff! But efter sixty two years, a still divvent knaa if he left it inside, cos a knaa he liked it. Or took it yem for his Mutha?? A cannit figure it oot.
I was gannin to paint a picture of a Collier lass!! Cos in my mind, most of the lasses a knew were just Forst class. And I must admit there wasn't many like this gannin Doon wor Raa, In fact nen at aal, so you cud say very few. But nee Bonnier than all the lasses that a knew. A dress doesn't mek a lady!! It's what's inside, a gud heart !! the answer is, It's simply called Grace, And a proppa lady isn't med with expensive clothes and fancy lace Cos I remember lots of lasses , aal of them bonny enough but hadn't much money , And dressed in second best, But when it came to being a lady , they passed the test. Now where the idea Come from for this painting a divvent knaa!! And as you can see its just haff finished, But I just wanted to say, me ideas aboot Collier lasses, Bonny lasses after all these years they've Nivvor diminished. And ye nivva knaa she might jump out of the paper when it's complete, For a bit of a chat and tell me hor , name. But if she talks ower much and she winnit keep her gob shut I wud have to say . Haddaway Hinny get back in the frame
How times change eh?? It was twelve o clock midnight when the voice floated up the stairs, Alan if your gannin to work, you'd better get up. The first shift after the New years day!! Seventeen I was, bugger I thowt!! I cudnt think of a word to say. Would have been quite happy to be off work today. Reluctantly I got dressed , quietly mind, A didn't want to wake the youngns up!! We werent encouraged to lay idle for nowt in wor hoose!! Doonstairs me Mother was sitting, kettle boiled, and my bait on the cheble put up. With heavy feet , and and even heavier heart, I slipped oot the back door, Young as I was, I was expected to play my part. Am sure the night did its best to put me off, Cad and the wind was blowing a a Gale, But nivva mind , Am still here to tell the tale. The pit lights were winkin at me a haff a mile away doon the road, And the fettle a was in , didn't lighten the load. The pit baths were completely silent , except for the soond of my two feet, Nee noise of other pit boots, But at least it was warm , I cud feel the heat. Got me two tallys from the miserable bugger in the time office, A was cheered me up a little bit, when I saw he was in a warse fettle than me!! When I put me lamp on , I was looking around to see who else I cud see, Including me there was a total of nine men had turned out for the whole pit!! Looking back we must hev been mad!! Two deputies, fower men, and three you wud describe as a lad. A thowt the gaffer might have said it's not worth gannin doon lads!! But no , we climbed up the high steps with leaden feet, up to the heap, Hopes shattered, The bugger said into the cage lads, And for the next sivvin and a quarter oors, We slipped quietly doon, not a word spoken, We went doon a canny few feet. Wishin we were back to bank to hoy in the second brass token.
My little Hoose, I've lived here a canny few years, forty four to be exact this June, A knaa when me Gloria got it we were over the moon, When the council gave us the choice on all the the empty hooses, We liked this the best, Far better than all the rest. A cudnt leave now after all these years, there's too much of me here!! Gud memories year after year. Even the gardens full of these in the shape of a plant or a tree, So I sit there often just thinking of her and me, Now if I won the lottery, I wud buy a holiday flat, beside the sea!! And I could travel and roam, But knaaing me , After a couple of weeks I'd be wanting to go home. I guess me feets stuck here for the rest of the shift!! So if you invite me for a few weeks away and you get a refusal!! Divvent be miffed
Daughters!! My little lasses yesterday !! My very best friends, me Marras today, My daughters forever Them words just sum it lovely, But forgive the words if they sound a bit clivvor. From toddlers to teens, And aal the little bits Dads divvent understand aboot, Wedged in between. To just plain Missis, Somewhere inside From lots of past year's, There's a place chocked full, of memories, cuddles and kisses. I remember lots of times instead of two sets of futsteps, There was just one, Them times was when little lasses legs got tired, And I carried one of my daughters when the day was done. And though am an aad man now, To to me , they'll nivva be nowt else, Except my little girls, Still picture it yet, their Mother putting their hair In bunches and curls. Now sometimes a knaa they worry aboot is, Cos am gett,n a little bit aad, A wud just like to say, daughters!! Are the best ivva present, that I cud have had, Now if a peg out the morn , and gan to my grave, Divvent want owt fancy on the headstone, Just Thank You , Bonny Lasses, And the love that you gave In my darkest hour, I put oot my hand and found à paw. So true this saying isn't it?? That and a canny bit more. I knaa that night after the family went yem, By myself in wor hoose!! A was surroonded by memories , lots of them. I was so tired , I had a little sleep on the cooch, Cuddled in beside me, A whippet, a little black pooch. She wakened me up later, A persistent prodding of a little black paw. Sticky up lugs, two sad Broon eyes Kinda saying keep gannin Fatha!! The forst thing I saw. I knaa she cannit speak English, though she hez a gud try. But she sure knaa' s the difference between glad and sad!! It's just that she disn't know why. She gave me great comfort in my darkest hour!! And opened the curtains , letting some light back in the room, And mopped up one or two tears, A guess she's just telling me, She wants to be luvved yit, For a canny few years. Fed , wettor,d ,walked, and lots of affection, A dogs life isn't it?? Same as us, Faithful forivva the only intention.
Am still picking little white feathers up!! Aal over the place. I like to think they're from someone I knew!! With the bonniest of face I've fund them in the car,the bathroom, the windowsill, When aal the doors hev been locked and closed. The first once or twice, it was a coincidence, So I supposed. But when it happens a canny few times a week, Your looking for a different answer to seek. Either I've got a pigeon that's loose in my little hoose!! Or some buggars hidden a big bliddy goose. I've even found one when I've been doing the washing up. There it was, a little wet white feather!, In an empty cup. Now I've asked myself!, what's she trying to tell is!! Or is she just letting me knaa, watching still, She's by my my side. My Bonney lass , for fifty odd years , A cannit describe how much I loved her, Til she died, Now what's prompted me to tell you aal this, I took my little whippet oot Doon by the river tonight, Halfway around !! I bent Doon to tie up my shoelace . A fund a little feather on a dandelion, it was pure pure white, Lying next to the ground. I wud like to think she's trying to say, Bonney lad as Lang as your here, Am not gannin away.!!!
An old one on a bit of faded broon paper, Memories, They're really just pictures in yor eyes, Just painted a bit Bonnier!! As the years pass bye. Some still stand oot,against the years, While others fade with passing fears, Of course there's others, hundreds faded, And we struggle to picture some that's shaded. Sometimes struggle to remember a place, Other times going through the alphabet, Trying to put a name to a face, Airing them oot once in a while!! Remembering them fondly while your asleep, The ones you keep, Just for the smile, Sometimes the room fills up with the scent of carnations and roses, Just the one answer to that!! One supposes. It's simply a love that you'll never forget, Just saying, Bonny lad forget me not.
Am slowly improving!! I ' ve fund t the hard way, a lad needs a lass, To bring oot the best!! Just that little bit more, Even if it man's putting up with nagging, To do a lang promised chore. Now a knaa for mesel ,the ins and outs of housework, They take a bit learning, song with the rest. When yor hoyed in the deep end for the forst time, It's a bit of a test.! Weshin machines now!! We're nivva designed for men! Aal them numbers on them Right up to ten!! A knaa you' ve got to sort oot the colours away from the whites!! But what bliddy number do set it at fower or six, As for owt delicate, am in a bit of a fix!¡. The white things I usually boil the arse ot them, And hope fore the best!! As av mentioned earlier, it's a bit of a test. And shopping!! I hate gannin shopping, Sum weeks I hev a bit of a look to see what I need, And make a bit of a list!! But am not very gud at it, if you get the drift of me gist!! I usually just hoy things I fancy, and most times I divvent need them! Into the trolley, That's why every Thursday, a spend ower much lolly. I winnit even mention Duvet's cos a divvent want to swear. Let's just say if I Nivvor seen another one I just wouldn't care. A lad needs a lass to bring oot the best!! It works wonders, a little bit nagging, a smidgin of flattery, A canny bit tenderness, A kiss on the cheek. Coming up to this lasses birthday before long, Miss her every day. I'll borrow the first few lines, I'll remember when Summer turns to Autumn, I'll remember when Winter turns to spring, I can see you in the raindrops when they're falling. I can hear you in the Spring, I can hear you when the Blackbirds sing. I can feel you when your near me, Though your face I cannot see. I can feel your presence when I walk through dew dropped grass. Just can't forget as the years go past. You dry my tears on a sunless day!, So many many things I'd have liked to say. On good days it feels as if you never left, On other days Bonny lass, at low tide I feel bereft. I was honoured Bonny lass, to have you as my wife, Guess I couldn't get out the habit of loving you All my life, I can see you in the raindrops when they're falling, I can hear you when the Blackbirds sing.
Am aalways quiet at Christmas. Some days, Some days , in the morning when am standing at the sink,! And doing my dishes, if I'm really still, I sometimes catch the whiff of perfume I think!! And haff expect to hear the sound of her voice, The perfume is of Estee , the one of her choice. Sometimes at low ebb, I take her scarf out of the drawer, To smell her again, for a second or two, She's beside me still, It gives me comfort!! and it keeps me gannin, a little bit more. I turn around and haff expect that she's at the dresser combing her her hair, But all the love in the world, Cannot put her back on that chair. Sometimes when am troubled I say her name and ask, What would you do, cos she was little and wise, Answering back!! Follow what you and what neebody else thinks Bonny Lad, That's what I would advise. Daft isn't it? but there's no time limit on grief, But sometimes ,just sometimes, You think back to these things, for a little relief. And sometimes when am fighting against sleep, I like floating back to the memories I keep. But she left me something so I'll never forget her! My two lovely lasses. To the tall owld man with the whippet, The one with the glasses. Am not too religious !! Nor is I particularly brave, But a divvent need no reminding to go to the cenotaph , just to remember these lads, And the lives that they gave. I must be gett,n soft hearted in my latter years. Cos when I go to things like this!! Me Hankies Nivvor far away, To wipe any stray tears. A knaa last year it was cold and windy, an ordinary November day. When I stud in the crowd , And like aal the others, shuffling my feet. Waiting til the Vicar was ready, to hear what he had to say. As normal he stood there reading words of care and comfort From his little gud book!! About the war and the lives that it took. Really he didnt need to say owt!! He would hev just needed to have pointed his hand!! To all the wreaths and garlands, and all the poppies on the little crosses of wood, Everyone one there wud have just understood, And just remembered them!! The brave men and lads, who never reached yem, And remembered the blind lads and the lame, Who's lives were Nivvor the same, And the poor Buggers who still hear the cannons roaring. The time they're asleep, The Demons that's there yit!! For each one of them to keep.
All these things, and tales are true, That I write from me to you, I hope you find them amusing in what I've done, Some in earnest, Some in fun. And though they're not the best, As some of the rest, But all are written from this lads heart, As I've penned my memories to impart, The things I did, and saw and seen, Mostly the little things that's been. At heart A pit village lad, Remembering back, a lang time ago now!! It wasn't too bad.
This has been a random selection of the prolific pitman painter and poet Alan Dickson's work. As there are many to choose from I think the selection gives a feeling of how he sees life as a Pitman Painter and Poet.