Eliza & Martin Carthy - Blackwell Merry Night lyrics

Aye, lad, such a merry night we've had at Blackwell The sound of the fiddle still rings in my ear All well clipped & heeled were the lads & the la**es & many a lively young la**ie was there The better sort they sat snug in the parlour In the pantry the sweethearts they whispered so soft The dancers they kicked up a dust in the kitchen At lanter the card-players sat in the loft The clogger from Dawston's a famous top hero & beats all the player-folk twenty 2 one He stamped with his foot & he shouted & roystered Till the sweat it ran off his very chin end Then he held up a hand like the spout of a tea-pot & danced Cross the Buckle & Leather 2 Patch When they cried Bonny Bell he leapt up 2 the ceilin' Kept snappin' his thumbs for a bit of a fratch The Heverby lads were well used 2 deep drinkin' At co*kin' the Dawstoners neva were beat The Buckabank chaps were right famous at courtin' Their kisses just sound like the latch of a gate The la**es of Blackwell are so many angels The Cummersdale beauties all glory in fun God help the poor fellow that squints at them dancin' He'll steal away heartless as sure as a gun The bacca was strong & the ale it was lively & many a one emptied a quart like a churn Daft Fred in the nook, like a half-roasted devil He told smutty stories & made them all grin Then one sang Tom Linton another Dick Walters The farmers all bragged of their fillies & foals With jibin' & jokin', & shakin' & laughin' Till some thought it time 2 set off 2 the coals But hold! I forgot: when the clock struck eleven The platter was brought in with white bread & brown The knife it was sharp, the great cheese was a topper An lumps big as lapstones our lads gobbled down The trim, jolly landlady cried, Do not be shy In God's name step forward; now welcome & eat Our guts were well filled, we paid up for blind Jenny & ext paid the shot on a great pewter plate Now full 2 the throttle, with headaches an heartaches Some crept 2 the clock case instead of the door Then sleepin' & snorin' took place of their roarin' An one a-top another they laid on the floor The last of December, long may we remember At five in' the morn, eighteen hundred & three Here's health & success 2 the brave Johnny Dawston An many such meetings may we live 2 see