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A Lift On The Way
This famous poem by Edwin Waugh is set to an excellent singing tune. 'Ned' Waugh was considered one of the giants of Lancashire dialect. He wrote prose and poetry, in both dialect and standard English. His 'Besom Ben' tales mix lyrical descriptions of Nature with the vernacular of the inhabitants of the valleys and moorland north of Rochdale, his home town.
He was a Freemason, initiated into Prudence Lodge No. 219, Todmorden on 6th Jan. 1860. I have not found a version of 'A Lift On the Way' in print, but this one comes from a typed sheet left by my father, who I remember singing it with feeling. Link to Glossary. A Lift On The Way
by Edwin Waugh
Come what’s the use o’ fratching lads, this life’s noan so lung,
So, if yo’n gether reawnd, aw’ll try mi hond at a song;
It may show a guiding glimmer, to some wanderer astray,
Or haply, gi’ some poor owd soul, a lift on the way.
A lift on the way, a lift on the way,
Or haply, gi’ some poor owd soul, a lift on the way.
Life’s roads full o’ ruts; it’s very slutchy and it’s dree;
An’ mony a worn-eawt limper, lies him deawn there to dee;
Then fleawndering low in’ t’ gutter, he looks reawnd wi’ dismay,
To see if aught i’ t’ world can give – A L O T W etc.
There’s some foalk ‘at mun trudge it, an’ there’s some foalk ‘at may ride,
But never mortal man con tell, what chance may betide:
Today he may be blossoming, like roses i’ May,
To-morn, he may be begging for, a L O T W etc.
Good-will it’s a jewel, where there’s little else to spare;
And a mon may help another, though his pouch may be bare:
A generous heart, like sunshine, brings good cheer in it’s ray,
And a friendly word can sometimes give, a L O T W etc.
Like posies that are parching in the midsummer sun,
There’s mony a poor heart faints, afore the journey be run;
Let’s lay the dust wi’ kindness, till the close of the day,
An gi’ these drooping travellers, a L O T W etc.
Oh, soft be his pillow, when he sinks deawn to his rest,
That can keep the lamp o’ charity, alive in his breast;
May pleasant feelings haunt him, as he’s dozing away,
And angels gi’ him up aboon, a L O T W etc.
Jog on my noble comrades, then, an’ – so mote it be –
That hond in hond we travel, till the day that we dee;
An’ neaw, to end my ditty lads, let’s heartily pray,
That heaven may give us everyone, a L O T W etc.
Dialect Expressions
Fratching - falling out
Slutchy - muddy
Dree - hard, difficult
Fleawdering - floundering, thrashing about
Trudge - walk
Jog on - walk on, continue, progress (in life)
So mot it be - So may it be (also of particular significance in Freemasonry)
Hond - hand
Dee - die |
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