Poems and Songs in the Lancashire Dialect

Edwin Waugh (1817 - 1890)

A selection of poems in the Lancashire dialect by the foremost exponent of the form. A printer by training, Edwin Waugh left his trade for secretarial work and began his literary career in 1852. His first dialect poem, 'Come whoam to thi' childer and me', was written at the Clarence Hotel, Manchester, on 10 June 1856 and published in the Manchester Examiner the following day. The best known Lancashire dialect poem of its day, it inspired numerous followers whose dialect poetry and prose provided an often nostalgic accompaniment to the sound and fury of the industrial revolution. This selection of dialect poems was published shortly after Waugh's death alongside a selection of his standard English poetry. It consists of the poems that editor George Milner judged to be presentable and is accompanied by a critical introduction and commentary on Waugh's use of the Rochdale variety of the Lancashire dialect. - Summary by Phil Benson

Genre(s): Poetry

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Come whoam to thy childer an' me; What ails thee, my son Robin?; The grindlestone; God bless these poor folk; Come, Mary link thi arm in mine Phil Benson
00:12:57
Play 02 Chirrup; The dule's i' this bonnet o' mine; Willy-ground; A bit of a sing; Tommy Pobs; Toddlin' whoam Phil Benson
00:12:15
Play 03 Th' sweetheart gate; Owd Enoch; Eawr folk; Forgive one another; Buckle to Phil Benson
00:12:02
Play 04 Neet fo'; A lift on the way; Yesterneet; I've worn my bits o' shoon away; Gentle Jone Phil Benson
00:12:50
Play 05 Tum Rindle; Bonny Nan; Tickle times; Jamie's frolic; Owd Pinder Phil Benson
00:10:55
Play 06 Th' goblin parson; Come, Jamie, let's undo thi shoon; While takin' a wift o' my pipe; God bless thi silver yure; Margit's comin' Phil Benson
00:11:48
Play 07 Hard weather; Come, limber lads; The garland; These bonny bits o' childer; To my old fiddle; It's time to be joggin' away Phil Benson
00:13:06
Play 08 Little cattle, little care; Cradle song; The little doffer; Heigh, lads, heigh; Toothsome advice; Cock Robin Phil Benson
00:10:48
Play 09 Owd Roddle; My Gronfaither Willie; Come to your porritch; Heigh, Jone, owd brid Phil Benson
00:08:30