# The Newcastle Songster by John Marshall

The Newcastle Songster, by John Marshall is a volume of six chapbooks, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, but virtually no other information. It was published by John Marshall in stages between 1812 and 1826.

## Details

The Newcastle Songster, by John Marshall (full title – "The Newcastle Songster; being a choice collection of Songs, Descriptive of the Language and Manners of the Common People of Newcastle upon Tyne And the neighbourhood" (the latter parts suffixed with "part II", " part III" etc.) is a volume of 6 Chapbook style books of Geordie folk songs, each consisting of 24 pages and a grand total of 72 song lyrics, published ca 1812, 1812, 1814, 1821, 1824 and 1826 respectively. The books were published and printed by John Marshall, one of the most prominent chapbook printers in Newcastle during the early nineteenth century. The books are undated and it is difficult to give an accurate date, but the fact that John Marshall did not move into the Flesh Market premises until 1811, dates them not before that date. Several of the later books can be dated approximately from the events, or dates within the titles. The first volumes appeared around the same time as John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards, published in 1812,. The six volume set of books contain some of the region's traditional songs and generally seem to stick to the same formulae as many other Chapbooks in using the same, or similar, well known songs. There are however a few "different" unusual and rare songs which do not appear in many other similar publications. It is assumed that these books, due to the content, would have been very popular with local population.

## The publication

It is, as the title suggests, a collection of songs which would have been popular, or topical, at the date of publication (or some time before). There is nothing at all in the way of biographies of any of the writers and virtually no details or histories of the events.
The front cover of the book was as thus :-
THE NEWCASTLE SONGSTER Being a Choice Collection of SONGS,
Descriptive of the Language and Manners of the Common People of NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE And the Neighbourhood – - – - – - – - – - No pompous strains, nor labour'd lines are here,
But genuine wit and sportive mirth appear:
Northumbria's genius in her simple rhymes,
Shall live an emblem to succeeding times.
– - – - – - – - – - Newcastle upon Tyne:
Printed by J. Marshall, in the Old Flesh-Market.
Where here also may be had, a large and curious Assortment of Songs, Ballads, Tales, Histories, &c.
| vol | page | title | songwriter | tune | comments | Notes |
| 1 | | part 1 | | | | |
| 1 | | front cover | | | | |
| 1 | 2 | New Keel Row (The) | Thomas Thompson | | maybe written c1815 | A-T1 |
| 1 | 4 | (Weel May) The Keel Row | | | | |
| 1 | 4 | Bonny Keel Laddie – (The) | | The Bonny Pit Laddie | | Tune-BS |
| 1 | 5 | Ma' Canny Hinny | | | | |
| 1 | 6 | Little Pee Dee (The) | | | | |
| 1 | 8 | Election Song 1812 – Newcastle | Thomas Thompson | | sung by the author at the Election on Saturday 10 October 1812 | A-T1 |
| 1 | 9 | Bonny Geatsiders 1805 (The) | John Shield | | | A-S2 |
| 1 | 11 | Quayside Shaver – (The) | William Stephenson | | | A-S5 |
| 1 | 13 | Walker Pits | | Off She Goes | | |
| 1 | 14 | Bob Cranky's Adieu | John Shield | | | A-S2 |
| 1 | 16 | Swalwell Hopping | John Selkirk | | | A-S1 |
| 1 | 19 | Sandgate Girl's Lamentation (The) | | | | |
| 1 | 21 | Canny Newcastle | Thomas Thompson | | | A-T1 |
| 1 | 23 | Dol Li A | | Dolia | described as "A song sung in Newcastle about the Years 1792-3-4" | Tune-FA |
| 1 | 24 | South Shields Song on the Sailors – (A) | | | consists of one verse | |
| 1 | 24 | North Shields Song – (A) | | | consists of one verse | |
| 1 | 24 | FINIS | | | | |
| 2 | | part II | | | | |
| 2 | | front cover | | | | |
| 2 | 2 | Skipper's Wedding – (The) | William Stephenson | The night before Larry was stretched | | A-S5 & Tune-A |
| 2 | 4 | Newcastle Fair October 1811 – or The Pitman Drinking Jackey | James Stawpert | Drop of Brandy | | A-S3 & Tune-B |
| 2 | 5 | Newcastle Beer | John Cunningham | | | |
| 2 | 7 | Water of Tyne (The) | | | | |
| 2 | 8 | Newcastle Signs (The) | Cecil Pitt | not given | sung at Newcastle Theatre Royal by Mr Scrifen, 4 June 1806 | F-P2 |
| 2 | 10 | Bob Cranky's 'Size Sunday | John Selkirk | | | A-S1 |
| 2 | 13 | Collier's Rant (The) | | | | |
| 2 | 15 | Pitman's Revenge against Bonaparte – (The) | George Cameron | | | A-C1 |
| 2 | 17 | Colliers' Pay Week (The) | Henry Robson | | | A-R1 |
| 2 | 23 | Jesmond Mill | Phill "Primrose" Hodgson | | also "Phill" and "Primrose" | F-H1 |
| 2 | | FINIS | | | | |
| 3 | | part III | | | | |
| 3 | | front cover | | | | |
| 3 | 2 | Cappy – or The Pitman's Dog | William Mitford | Chapter of donkies | | A-M1 |
| 3 | 3 | X. Y. Z. At Newcastle Races, 1814 (or Pitmen's Luck) | William Mitford | | | F-M1 |
| 3 | 6 | Bob Cranky's 'Leum'nation Neet | John Shield | | | F-S2 |
| 3 | 9 | Politicians – (The) | | Newcastle Fair | | |
| 3 | 11 | Tyne Cossacks (The) | W Mitford | The Bold Dragoon | | F-M1 |
| 3 | 13 | Local Militia-Man (The) | William Mitford | Madame Fig's Gala | | F-M1 |
| 3 | 15 | Winlaton Hopping | John Leonard | Paddy's Wedding | sometimes called "Winlaton Hoppin'" | A-L1 |
| 3 | 18 | Bob Cranky's account of the ascent of Mr. Sadler's balloon, from Newcastle | W Mitford | | 1 September 1815 | F-M1 |
| 3 | 21 | Pitman's visit to Newcastle on Valentine's Day – (A) | | Newcastle Fair | | |
| 3 | 24 | Petition from the women of the Vegetable Market to the mayor of Newcastle – (A) | | John Anderson my Jo | | |
| 3 | | FINIS – J Marshall, Printer, Newcastle | | | | |
| 4 | | part IV | | | | |
| 4 | | front cover | | | | |
| 4 | 2 | section A – Coronation Songs | | | | |
| 4 | 2 | Invitation to the Mansion House Dinner (In honour of the Coronation) | | | In this book it is named "Invitation to the Newcastle dinner" | |
| 4 | 3 | Newcastle Shepherd's Proclamation | | | signed – Pygstye Court Sandhill, 12 July 1821 | |
| 4 | 4 | comment of the colloquial names of the rich and poor | | | | |
| 4 | 5 | Golden Horns (The) (or The General Invitation) | | | | |
| 4 | 5 | Loyal Festivities! – or novel Scenes in Newcastle | | | A popular song in the New Farce of the coronation as it was performed at Newcastle upon Tyne on Thursday, 19 July 1821. Sung by the 'Swinish Multitude' in full chorus. | |
| 4 | 8 | Coronation Ox Feast – (The) Given by the Corporation to the Gothamites | | | | |
| 4 | 9 | section B – General songs | | | | |
| 4 | 9 | Newcastle Noodles (The) | James Morrison | Canny Newcassel | | Tune-Fr |
| 4 | 10 | Loyal Address – (The) | | | | |
| 4 | 12 | British Justice – or Newcastle Privy Court | | Auld Lang Syne | | Tune-FA |
| 4 | 15 | T**ly's best blood | | | A North Shields Song | |
| 4 | 15 | Newcastle Theatre in an uproar – (The) | | | With the Bear, the Horses, and the Dogs, as principal Performers | |
| 4 | 18 | Famed Filly Fair – or A peep in Pilgrim Street on a Sunday Neet | | | | |
| 4 | 20 | | | | | |
| 4 | 21 | Permanent Yeast | John Morrison – see Z-1 | | | Z-1 |
| 4 | 23 | Nanny of the Tyne | John Gibson | | | F-G1 |
| 4 | 24 | Green Wives Lamentation (The) | | | | |
| 4 | 24 | FINIS | | | | |
| 5 | | part V | | | | |
| 5 | | front cover | | | | |
| 5 | 2 | Keelman's Stick – (The) | | | | |
| 5 | 3 | Keelman's Lamentation | | Lancashire Dick | | |
| 5 | 4 | Skipper's Account of the Orangemen's Procession (The) | | | | |
| 5 | 6 | Skipper's Dream (The) | T Moor | | | A-M3 |
| 5 | 8 | Sandhill Monkey (The) | William Stephenson | Drops of Brandy | | A-S4 & Tune-A |
| 5 | 10 | Fox Caught in a Brewhouse (The) | | Good morrow to your Night Cap | | |
| 5 | 11 | Hell's Kitchen | | | | Tune-Fr |
| 5 | 14 | Tim Tunbelly | William Oliver | Canny Newcassel | | F-O1 |
| 5 | 15 | Newcastle Hackneys (The) | | | | |
| 5 | 16 | Bold Archy Drowned | Robert Gilchrist | | Composed on hearing a false report of the death of that celebrated character | A-G2 |
| 5 | 19 | Tommy C**r in Limbo | Oliver | Scots wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled | Thomas Carr, Captain of the Watch 1823 | F-O1 & Tune-F |
| 5 | 20 | Hackney Coach Customers – or Newcastle Wonders | Robert Emery | not given | Named plain "Newcastle Wonders" | A-E1 |
| 5 | 21 | Newcassel Props (The) | William Oliver | | | F-O1 |
| 5 | 23 | Kitty Port Admiral at the Bench (The) (or Dogberry in the Suds) | Wm Watson | The Opera Hat | | Fr-W1 |
| 5 | 24 | FINIS – J Marshall, Printer, Newcastle | | | | |
| 6 | | part VI | | | | |
| 6 | 1 | front cover | | | | |
| 6 | 2 | Pitman's Pay (The) (or A Night's Discharge To Care) | Thomas Wilson | | | F-W2 |
| 6 | 16 | Jossy's Nag's Head | | A rampant lion is my sign | | |
| 6 | 19 | April Gowk (The) (or The Lover's Alarmed) | R Gilchrist | | A Castle-Garth ditty | F-G2 |
| 6 | 21 | Fish-Wives' Complaint (The) (on Their Removal from Sandhill to the New Fish Market) | R Emery | Sleeping Maggie | moved on 2 January 1826 | |
| 6 | 23 | New Fish Market – (The) | Wm Mitford | Scots, come o'er the border | | |
| 6 | 24 | Keelmen and the Grindstone | Armstrong | | | |
| 6 | 24 | FINIS | | | | |