‘I hae ele’en bairns i the wast,

I wait the’re a’ to Geordie;

I’d see them a’ streekit afore mine eyes

Afore I lose my Geordie.

18

‘I hae ele’en bairns i the wast,

The twalt bears up my body;

The youngest’s on his nurse’s knee,

An he never saw his dadie.

19