John Stobbs was a 19th-century English songwriter and poet who lived in the Tyneside district. Many of his writings are in the Geordie dialect.
There is very little information on John Stobbs, except that he was (like William Egglestone) noted for his humorous monologues and appeared to either subscribe to other books, like the “Descriptive and Historical Account of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne" by Eneas Mackenzie, published c1827, or for him or his works to be quoted in the works by the work’s author.
The following songs have been attributed to John Stobbs, all of which appear in The Shields Garland :-
Blow the Wind Southerly – A note at the foot of the song may attribute authorship to Alexander Brighton
Coal trade (The) – In some places this is attributed to William Brockie, but a note on the manuscript states that it was “touched up” by Brockie
Fitter he has Daughters three, Drive away the Waggons, Hinny (The) - A Sailor’s song at the capstan
Jenny Chowk’d the Bairn
Liberty for the sailors, a Shields song for the days of the Press-gang
Pound of tea
Sweepy’s Lovely Daughter (The)
Tally I, O, the grinder or A Sailor’s Song at the Capstan
Tynemouth (or Tynemouth Abbey" (music by Thomas Haswell)
Blow the Wind Southerly - A recording available on MWM Records sung by Judy Dinning
Liberty for the sailors - this song also appears in Northumbrian Minstrelsy by Bruce and Stokoe, 1882 - A recording available on MWM Records sung by Jane Wade
Sweepy’s Lovely Daughter (The) - A recording available on MWM records sung by Benny Graham
Tally I, O, the grinder - A recording available on MWM records sung by Ray Stubbs and the Hush
