Neha Patil (Editor)

Keep yor feet still Geordie hinny

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Written
  
c1856

Lyricist(s)
  
Published
  
c1858

Language
  
English (Geordie)

Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny is a famous Geordie comic song written in the 19th century by Joe Wilson, in a style deriving from music hall. Though the words were by Wilson, it is to be sung to the existing tune of "Nelly Gray" (also used for the Liverpool song "Maggie May")

Contents

Topic

At the time, many working men, particularly in the building and civil engineering trades, worked away from home. These were the labourers and navvies who built the railways and canals. They arranged for "digs" wherever the work was, and in most cases, because of the costs and savings available, they slept two or more to a bed. This song features two such Geordies who share a bed in a lodging house. One, Bob Johnson, is very unhappy with his mate Geordie for waking him up when in the middle of a dream about an elusive young maiden from back home, of whom he has high hopes. His dreams are disrupted at the end of each verse by the fidgeting “Geordie”.

Lyrics

Joe Wilson was probably the most prolific of the Geordie songwriters of the time. Many of his works were published in his book of Songs and Drolleries.

This version is as follows:

Recordings

  • Owen Brannigan (1908-1973 was one of England's most popular bass singers in his day. His EP entitled Folk Songs From Northumbria (ref 7EG 8551 ) included the song with 6 other titles
  • Cushie Butterfield & Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinnie, performed by Geordie Wilson at The Tranzac on YouTube
  • References

    Keep yor feet still Geordie hinny Wikipedia


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