THE BLAYDON RACES.
Original lyrics from "Allan's Tyneside Songs 1981 - Revised Edition". Modern variations exist.
Capo on 2 (optional).
INTRO
G D A7 D
VERSE
D A7 D
Aw went to Blaydon Races, 'twas on the ninth of Joon,
G D E7 A7
Eiteen hundred an' sixty-two, on a summer's efternoon;
D A7 D
Aw tyuk the 'bus frae Balmbra's, an' she wis heavy laden,
G D A7 D
Away we went alang Collingwood Street, that's on the road to Blaydon.
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
VERSE
D A7 D
We flew past Airmstrang's factory, and up to the "Robin Adair",
G D E7 A7
Just gannin' doon te the railway bridge, the 'bus wheel flew off there.
D A7 D
The lasses lost their crinolines off, an' the veils that hide their faces,
G D A7 D
An' aw got two black eyes an' a broken nose in gan te Blaydon Races.
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
VERSE
D A7 D
When we gat the wheel put on away we went agyen,
G D E7 A7
But them that had their noses broke they cam back ower hyem;
D A7 D
Sum went to the Dispensary an' uthers to Doctor Gibbs,
G D A7 D
An' sum sought out the Infirmary to mend their broken ribs.
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
VERSE
D A7 D
Noo when we gat to Paradise thor wes bonny gam begun;
G D E7 A7
Thor was fower-an-twenty on the 'bus, man, hoo they danced an' sung;
D A7 D
They called on me to sing a sang, aw sung them "Paddy Fagan",
G D A7 D
Aw danced a jig an' swung my twig that day aw went to Blaydon.
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
VERSE
D A7 D
We flew across the Chain Bridge reet into Blaydon toon,
G D E7 A7
The bellman he was callin' there, they call him Jackie Broon;
D A7 D
Aw saw him talkin' to sum cheps, an' them he was pursuadin'
G D A7 D
To gan an' see Geordy Ridley's concert in the Mechanics' Hall at Blaydon.
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.
VERSE
D A7 D
The rain it poor'd aw the day an' myed the groons quite muddy,
G D E7 A7
Coffy Johnny had a white hat on – they war shootin' "Whe stole the cuddy."
D A7 D
There wes spice stalls an' munkey shows an' aud wives selling ciders,
G D A7 D
An' a chep wiv a hapenny roond aboot, shootin' "Noo, me lads, for riders."
CHORUS
D A7 D
Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin',
G D E7 A7
We pass'd the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin';
D A7 D
Thor wes lots o' lads an' lasses there, all wi' smiling faces,
G D A7 D
Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.