WEEL MAY THE KEEL ROW.
As I cam thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
As I cam thro' Sandgate, I heard a lassie sing,
Weel may the keel row, the keel row, the keel row,
Weel may the keel row, that my laddie's in.
He wears a blue bonnet, blue bonnet, blue bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet, a dimple in his chin:
And weel may the keel row, the keel row, the keel row,
And weel may the keel row that my laddie's in.
THE NEW KEEL ROW.
Whe's like my Johnny,
Sae leish, sae blithe, sae bonny?
He's foremost 'mang the mony
Keel lads o' Coaly Tyne;
He'll set or row sae tightly,
Or in the dance sae sprightly,
He'll cut and shuffle sightly:
'Tis true—were he not mine.
Weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
Weel may the keel row,
That my laddie's in:
He wears a blue bonnet,
A bonnet, a bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet,
A dimple in his chin.
He's nae mair o' learning,
Than tells his weekly earning,
Yet reet frae wrang discerning,
Tho' brave, nae bruiser he:
Tho' he no worth a plack is,
His awn coat on his back is,
And nyen can say that black is
The white o' Johnny's e'e.
Weel may the keel row, &c.
He takes his quairt right dearly,
Each comin' pay-day, nearly,
Then talks O, latin O—cheerly,
Or mavies jaws away;
How caring not a feather,
Nelson and he together,
The springey French did lether.
And gar'd them shab away.
Weel may the keel row, &c.
We're a' kings comparely,
In each I'd spy a fairly,
An' ay wad Johnny barly,
He gets sic bonny bairns:
Go bon, the queen, or misses,
But wad, for Johnny's kisses,
Luik upon as blisses,
Scrimp meals, caff beds, and dairns.
Weel may the keel row, &c.