Aw’m a Leet-Hearted Chap - Anonymous
I think of this more as a song than a poem, and learned it from hearing my father sing it. Later I have enjoyed playing its lilting tune on the mouth-organ. Edwin Waugh’s ‘Lift on the Way’ carries much of its sentiment but perhaps in a more measured poetical way.
Aw’m a Leet-Hearted Chap
Ah’m a leet-hearted chap,
An’ ah don’t care a rap,
Ah allus feel happy and gay.
An’ as through this world
Ah go jogging along
Ah never meet trouble half way.
Ah’ve a dear little wife
Just to poo me through life,
Two childer as breet as the day.
When a chap comes to see
Mi wife, childer an’ me
Ah just ax him in an’ then say:
Oh, th’art welcome, lad, th’art welcome,
Gi us thi ’ond ‘owd chum.
Sit thee deawn, draw up to th’ feigher
An mak thisel awhoam.
Here’s wishing thee wealth
Good luck and good health
An’ if ever thou’rt passin’ this way
We’st allus be glad,
To see thee owd lad
Th’art welcome as flowers i’ May.
A slightly different version is published in My North Countrie – An anthology of poetry and prose of the northern counties collected and arranged by Wilfred Pickles. George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955.