Byker Hill

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"Byker Hill" is a traditional English folk song about coal miners, Roud 3488 [1] that has been performed by many contemporary acts. [2] There are at least three different tunes to which the song is sung.

Contents

Byker Hill is in the east end of Newcastle, as is the adjoining district of Walker, also mentioned in the song. "Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads for ever more"

The earliest versions of this song use the title "Walker Pits" as in the publication Rhymes of Northern Bards (1812) where it is song number 36. [3] It was included in A.L. Lloyd's collection "Come all ye bold miners", still with the earlier title. [4]

Lyrics

I

If I had another penny

I would have another gill

I would make the piper play

The bonny lass of Byker Hill


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more


II

The pitman and the keelman trim

They drink bumble made from gin

Then to dance they do begin

To the tune of Elsie Marley


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever morе

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Colliеr lads for ever more


III

When first I went down to the dirt

I had no cowl nor no pitshirt

Now I've gotten two or three

Walker Pit's done well by me


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more


IV

Geordie Charlton, he had a pig

You hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig

All the way to Walker Shore

To the tune of Elsie Marley


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more


I (again)

If I had another penny

I would have another gill

I would make the piper play

The bonny lass of Byker Hill


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more


Chorus:

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Byker Hill and Walker Shore

Collier lads for ever more

Notable versions of "Byker Hill"

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References

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