Byker Hill and Walker Shore

This is a traditional song from Newcastle about coal miners. Byker Hill and Walker are in the east end of the city. Elsie Marley is another folk song, mentioned in the second verse. Like all the best folk songs, there are a number of different tunes it can be sung with and it has been covered many times over the years.

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Performance Track Lyrics Video:

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Backing Track Lyrics Video:

Lyrics:

If I had another penny,

I would have another gill.

I would make the piper play

“The Bonny Lass of Byker Hill”

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.

Geordie Johnson had a pig,

He hit it with a shovel and it danced the jig.

All the way to Byker Hill

To the tune of Elsie Marley.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.

When I came to work at Walker,

I had no coat and no pit shirt.

Now I’ve gotten two or three,

Walker Pit’s done well for me.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.

Byker Hill and Walker Shore,

Collier lads for evermore.