Billy Suet’s Song by Major D. Halstead (1861 - )
From ‘A Lancashire Garland of Dialect Prose and Verse. Selected and Edited by G. Halstead Whittaker. Published in 1936 by Geo. Whittaker & Sons, Eclipse Works, Stalybridge, 2nd Impression, 1936.
Major David Halstead was born in Haslingden. He joined the Voluteers in 1879 as a private, and rejoined in 1897 as 2nd Lieut; he served in Egypt. In 1915 was in command of a Turkish prisoners’ camp, invalided home in 1916. Became mayor of Haslingden in 1917 and MP for Rossendale in 1922. Was an antiquarian, booklover and collector. Presented to Haslingden over 600 volumes of local literature. On the death of Henry Brierley in 1933 became President of the Lancashire Author’s Association. Established a bleaching firm. Friend of Edwin Waugh.
As the title says, this poem is best when sung. It contains the essential elements of a story well told with a good ending. The song was sung by Harry Boardman but you can hear a great version by
Mark Dowding on the CD '
A Mon Like Harry'. Billy Suet’s Song
by Major D. Halstead
Bodle un Mischief un Poncake un me
One Setthurday mornin’ went out for a spree;
Four lasses we met uz were goin’ up th’ Slate-
Thur wur Sarah un Mary un Martha un Kate.
They lived wi’ the’r feyther up on th’ Cribden Side,
He’d work’d up o’ th’ farm whol the’r shuttle they plied,
“They’s all hev the’r looms,” th’ owd feyther said,
“When they leave Cribden Side for to goo un get wed.”
Well, aw needed a loom, un aw needed a wife,
For aw’d getten reifth stauled ov a bachelor’s life;
Un Mischief un Bodle un Poncake all said
They’d bin long enough single – they’d goo un get wed.
“Well, Sarah,” aw sed, “aw’m beawn to ha’ thee”;
“Aw’m too fond o’ Mischief,” sed Sarah to me,
“Un aw’m promis’t a good pair o’ looms when aw wed” –
“By gum, Sal, aw’ll tak’ un un thee,” Mischief sed.
Well, then aw axed Martha if hoo’d cooart wi me –
“When tha hesn’d a Bodle to bless thisel wi!” –
Soa Bodle took this uz a hint to propose;
An’ a foine pair o’ looms un Martha aw lose.
Soa Mary un Kate were soon left by thersel,
One day we see’d Kate fotchin’ wayter fro’ th’ well,
Then Poncake un me booath together did strike:
“Aw ne’er cared for Suet, but Poncake aw like!”
Well, Moll un her looms they wur booath still to let,
Un id worn’d very long afore Mary aw met;
Aw wor twistin’ a warp in th’ owd spinnin’ rooms;
Neaw aw’ve getten th’ feawst lass un th’ wo’st pair o’ looms.