Voyage to Lunnin

Lang years ower meadows, moors, and muck,
I cheerly on did waddle--
So various is the chance o' luck
Between the grave and cradle.
When wark at hyem turn'd rather scant,
I thought 'twas fair humbuggin';
An' so aw even teuk a jaunt,
Faiks, a' the way to Lunnin.

Lord Howick was my chosen ship,
Weel rigg'd byeth stem and quarter,
The maister was a cannie chep--
They ca'd him Jacky Carter.
Wi' heart as free frae guilt as care,
I pack'd up all my duddin,
And shipp'd aboard--the wind blew fair--
Away we sail'd for Lunnin.

Safe ower the bar a-head we tint--
The day was fine and sunny;
And seun we left afar behint,
Wor land o' milk and honey.
But few their dowly thoughts can tyem--
May be the tears were comin'--
Sair griev'd, ne doubt, to pairt wi' hyem,
Though gaun to keek at Lunnin.

Fareweel, Tyne Brig and cannie Kee,
Where aw've seen monny a shangy,
Blind Willie, Captain Starkey tec--
Bold Archy and great Hangy.
Fareweel Shoe Ties, Jack Tate, Whin Bob,
Cull Billy, and Jack Cummin,
Au'd Judy, Jen Bawloo--aw'll sob
Your praises all at Lunnin.

Some such as me the hyke myed sick,
And myed them rue their roamin':
Still forward plung'd wor gallant ship,
And left the water foamin'.
Waes me! but 'tis a bonny seet,
O land o' beef and puddin'!
To see thy tars, in pluck complete,
Haud fair their course for Lunnin!

Hail, Tyneside lads! in collier fleets,
The first in might and motion--
In sunshine days or stormy neets
The lords upon the ocean.
Come England's foes--a countless crew--
Ye'll gie their gobs a scummin',
And myek them a' the day to rue,
They glibb'd their jaws at Lunnin.

I thought mysel a sailor good,
And flired while some lay sprawlin',
Till where the famous Robin Hood
Sends out his calms or squallin'--
'Twas there aw felt aw scarce ken how--
For a' things teuk a bummin',
And myed me wish, wi' retch and spew,
The ship safe moor'd at Lunnin.

As round by Flambrough Head we shot,
Down cam a storm upon us--
Thinks aw, we're fairly gyen to pot--
O dear!--have mercy on us!
Ower northern plains 'twill dowly sound,
And set their eyes a runnin',
When they shall tell that aw was drown'd,
Just gannin up to Lunnin.

To cheer wor hearts in vain they brought
The porter, grog, and toddy--
My head swam round whene'er aw thought
Upon a fat pan-soddy.
"O what the plague fetch'd us frae hyem!"
Some in the glumps were glummin';
I could hae blubber'd, but thought shyem,
While gaun a voyage to Lunnin.

Cross Boston Deeps how we did spin,
Skelp'd on by noisy Boreas,
Up Yarmouth Roads, and seun up Swin,
The water flew before us.
O glorious seet! the Nore's in view--
Like fire and flood we're scuddin':
Ne mair we'll bouk wor boiley now,
But seun be safe at Lunnin.

Hail, bonny Tyames! weel smon thy waves!
A world might flourish bi' them--
And, faiks, they weel deserve the praise
That a' the world gies ti them.
O lang may commerce spread her stores,
Full on thy bosom dinnin'--
Weel worthy thou to lave the shores
O' sic a town as Lunnin.

Seun Black-Wall Point we left astern,
Far ken'd in dismal story--
And Greenwich Towers we now discern,
Au'd England's pride and glory.
Sure Nature's sel inspir'd my staves,
For I began a crunnin',
And blair'd, 'Britannia rule the waves!'
As by we sail'd for Lunnin.

Fornenst the Tower, we made a click,
Where traitors gat their fairins',
And where they say that hallion Dick
Yence scumfish'd two wee bairins.
Hitch, step, and loup, I sprang ashore.
My heart reet full o' funnin'--
And seun forgat the ocean's war,
Amang the joys o' Lunnin.