1
On the sixteenth of October ti market Ah did go,
With fifteen ’Ereford beasts, they made a splendid show.
I ’ad ’em penned up early sae the buyers all could see,
Ah ’oped that for the follerin’ year we’d ’ev sugar in oor tea---,
Sugar in oor tea.
With a, “Twenny, twenny-one, twenny-two, twenny-three.”
These is not sae dear.
“Twenny-four, twenny five, twenny-six, twenny seven.
Selled ti you, sir, over there.”
2
T(h)rade started rather sluggish with some beasts from right up dale,
An Ah got a trifle worried it wadn’t be the best o’ sales;
But when the second batch come in the buyers got their wind,
And Charlie’d sike a flyin’ t(h)rade he varry nearly grinned---,
He varry nearly grinned.
With a, “Twenny-eight, twenny-nine, thotty, thotty-one.”
These is not sae dear.
“Thotty-two, thotty-three, thotty-four, thotty-five.
Selled ti you, sir, over there.”
3
Then come a great hairy bullock as wild as a March hare;
Rough lads they all left the ring, face him they wad not dare.
Butcher Norman bowt ’im, for a good price on the day;
There’ll be teeaf beef in ’is shop next week, Ah think we’ll keep away---,
Ah think we’ll keep away.
With a, “Thotty-six, thotty-seven, thotty-eight, thotty-nine.”
These is not sae dear.
“Fotty, fotty-one, fotty-two, fotty-three.
Selled ti you, sir, over there.”
4
Mine seeun cummed inti t’ ring; six went out Malton way,
And t’ awd chap ’at bowt ’em ’ad a fancy price ti pay.
Auctioneer knocked three down too fast, the’ should ’a med some more.
Next two med about their price an’ Fred got t’ other four---,
Fred got t’ other four.
With a, “Fotty-four, fotty-five, fotty-six, fotty-seven.”
These is not sae dear.
“Fotty-eight, fotty-nine, fifty, fifty-one.
Selled ti you, sir, over there.”
5
Sae when Ah’d getten ’em selled an’ off Ah quickly shot away,
For a great amoont of luck money Ah was not inclined ti pay!
Ah went across ti t’ awd Bridge Inn ti ’ev a glass or two,
As Ah went in the lads all said, “We’ll ’ev a d(h)rink on you---,
We’ll ’ev a d(h)rink on you.”
With, “A gin, a Guinness, an’ a light ale, an’ three pints o’ beer,
Two ’awves, a whiskey, an a rum an’ black.” Roonds was varry dear!
6
Sae I gat ’ome quite merry; wife met me at the door.
She brayed me ’ard wid frying pan; by shots, me ’eead was sore!
She says, “You’ve spent ’awf o’ t’ money an’ the bairns all need new gear;
If this is t’ way that you go on Ah’m sellin’ ’em next year---,
Ah’m sellin ’em next year.”
With a, “Fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five.”
These is not so dear.
“Fifty-six, fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine.
Selled ti you, sir, over there.”
This is a contemporary song about Yorkshire.
This song was written by and sung by John Greaves, a farmer from Littlebeck near Whitby, who was one of our first singers to be recorded.
This is a great song which gives some insight into the workings of farming where cattle and other animals are sold on for either meat to butchers or to other farmers for fattening up.
The money raised by the auctioneers’ sale had to be relied upon for feed for animals and the farmer’s family until the next sale.
To lose money at cards or drink the money away in the pub were clear temptations with dire retribution!