The words are taken from a song as sung by Mark Dowding on his CD ‘A Mon Like Harry’, available from Mark at mark@markdowding.co.uk. The CD is a tribute to the Lancashire folk singer Harry Boardman. The notes say: “This song was supplied to Harry by Roy Palmer from a broadside by J. Livesey of Shudehill, Manchester. Harry put the tune and chorus to it.”
There is a chance that this is the song referred to as 'Robin and Kate' in Ben Brierley's tale of Billy Bump.
Go to the Glossary for help with unusual words such as 'gobbin'.
Did you ever ’ear tell of yung frolicsome Kate
Who wur courted by Robin a miller of late?
All the kurs of this world did encumber ’is crown
She first carried ’im up and then tumbled ’im down.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
It’s Robin ee used for to go in the night
Ee’d call ’er ’is jewell ’is joy and delight
But ’is kisses they did no more enter in luv
She wanted to marry she’d ’ave ’im te prove.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then Kate said te Robin and called ’im ’er love
Then go up the stairs to mi chamber above
And all night in my arms tha shall lie
With this pleasant project did Robin comply.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then how shall we get up theere Robin ee said
Ah’ll wakken thi mistress dear Kate ah’m afraid
Then get on mi back and she’ll think it is I
And with this pleasant project the couple complied
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then Robin ee instantly got on ’er back
Ee ’ung on ’er ’ump like some Yorkshireman’s pack
And when they coome to the side of ’er bed
All the cares of this world they coome into ’is ’ead.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then Robin ’ee gazed like one that was wild
Ee said mi dear Kate ah’ll get thee with child
Charges are ’igh and provisions are dear
And this Robin whispered quite loud in ’er ear.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then ’ow shall we get out then Robin he said
Ah’ll wakken thi mistress dear Kate ah’m afraid
Oh then replied Kate and mekken no doubt
As ah carried thee in ah can carry thee out.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then Robin ee instantly got on ’er back
She flung him downstairs made his bones for to crack
And the blunderin freytend the mistress so
She cried There are thieves in mi kitchen below!
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Oh lovin’ kind mistress don’t be afraid
It’s I your honest and diligent maid
It’s nothing at all but a bundle of cares
Of this troublesome world that ah’ve tumbled downstairs.
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Then Robin she instantly kicked out the door
Ee ’adn’t the courage to coome any more
And ah think ee was very well served in ’is time
For ee wouldn’t endeavour to please the maid’s mind
Oh pooer owd Robin ah think ee’s a gobbin
Ee wouldn’t endeavour te please the maid’s mind.
Return to index of Lancashire dialect poems