A Dalesman's Litany
Frederic William Moorman
1872 to 1919
Track 1
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An' roared like t' wind on t' fell.
Choose, wilt ta wed or stay?
When I were courtin' Mary Ann,
Frae Hull, an' Halifax, an' Hell,
Furnaces thrast out tongues o' fire,
It's hard when fowks can't finnd their wark
I've sammed up coals i' Barnsley pits,
I've watched snow float down Bradforth Beck
Gooid Lord, deliver me!
I've seen grey fog creep ower Leeds Brig
Frae forges, mills, an' coalin' boats,
T were same as bein' i' Hell:
I've wrowt i' Leeds an' Huthersfel',
Gooid Lord, deliver me!
When I were young I awlus thowt
I've travelled all three Ridin's round,
Frae Hunslet, Holbeck, Wibsey Slack,
T' gooid Lord's delivered me!
T' owd squire, he says one day:
Frae Hull, an' Halifax, an' Hell,
Twix' us an' t' coal-pit slack.
So here's my litany:
I've lived wheer fowks were stowed away
To t' town we had to flee:
To t' coontry we've coom back.
Frae Bradforth, Leeds, an Huthersfel',
I've kept my barns an' lass.
But now, when all wer childer's fligged,
I'd bide 'mong t' roots an' corn.
As thick as bastile soup;
And once I went to sea:
I've got no bield for wedded fowks;
There's fotty mile o' heathery moor
Wheer they've bin bred an' born;
I've walked at neet through Sheffield loans,
I' Bradforth, Keighley, Rotherham,
I laugh an' shout wi' glee:
Gooid Lord, deliver me!
I couldn't gie up t' lass I loved,
But I've bin forced to work i' towns,
And when I sit ower t' fire at neet,
Gooid Lord, deliver me!
Like rabbits in a coop.
An' addled honest brass;
Wi' muck up to my knee:
Gooid Lord, deliver me!
Frae Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham,
Frae Hull, an' Halifax, an' Hell,
As black as ebiny:
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