A Victorian Ballad
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Though his name was Will Warley, they called him Will Wag For his tongue hung so lesson and ready to brag. He couldn't help talking, he'd jaw at the boss And wi' nobody else by, why he'd talk to his 'oss. He was steerer for Pickfords, which meant he was mate Of their boat number nine thousand four twenty eight. He collected round Smethwick and took to the station All the axles and iron, the bolts, nuts and screws, the rivets, the castings, glass, sizes and glues In fact any Smethwick things med as folk use It wor none of Wag's duty to pick nor to choose. It chanced in the winter, one dark, foggy day Wag had got a big load and was hurryin away From one o' them plaerces, though which I cor say But I fancy it was somewhere up West Bromwich way I know 'twas a plaerce where th boat loading wharf Runs up twixt the forges and cuts 'em in half So a line wor no good, there wor no room to tow And the boats with an hooked shaft was worked to and fro. Well, he shoved at the starn and he heaved at the bow Till the work, 'spite of cold, made him sweat puff and blow And the fog med him foul every boat in the row And he ' fun he was movin out uncommon slow So as summat was wrong, what it was he day know He jawed at his helper, for loading so slow Wag's underhand naturally answered him backl In a style as med Will holler. " None of thee clack!" He borrowed a lantern and searched round the side To see if by chance 'er'd got chain logged or tied Now nothin' he fun till the mid beam he rayched When like a daft chap, of a sudden he scrayched... "Yo' con shove till yo'm bostin the shaft in ter two Or crush in' yer coller bone, then it wo' dew For wi' all yer hard swearing, rostling and rush in' It's agin yer own beam yo' bin all the time pushin'" |