Traditional song from the North East of England

Not quite traditional as it was written by the prolific song writer Joe Wilson in 1858. To be sung to the tune of Nellie Grey. The song is interesting not just for its humour but also for the social context.

Here is the first verse:

KEEP YOUR FEET STILL, GEORDIE HINNY


Air (or Teun) – “My Darling Nellie Grey”



Wor Geordey an' Bob Jonsin byeth lay i' one bed,

Iv a little lodgjin hoose that's doon the shore,

Before Bob had been an' oor asleep, a kick frae Geordey's fut

Myed him wakin up to roar instead o' snore.


KORUS



Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet, 

For aw mayn’t be se happy throo the day. 
So
So give us that bit cumfort, --keep yor feet still, Geordey lad, 

An' divvent send maw bonny dreams away!

For those not perhaps acquainted with the dialect here it is in standard English


Our Geordie and Bob Johnson both lay in one bed
In a little lodging house down by the shore
Before Bob had been an hour asleep, a kick from Geordie’s foot
Made him wakened up to roar instead of snore

Chorus

Keep your feet still! Geordie, hinny, let’s be happy for the night
For I may not be so happy through the day
So give me that bit comfort, keep your feet still Geordie lad,
And do not send my bonny dreams away.

‘Hinny’ is a standard term of endearment used for both men and women.

The idea of two men sharing a bed in lodgings by the shore might give you the idea that it’s about a gay couple having a weekend away in Brighton, but the truth is totally different.

The ‘shore’ refers to the docks. These men are dockers. Poorly paid labourers, employed and paid by the day. They sleep in a common lodging house, a doss house or flop house, where rooms are rented for the night and vacated in the morning. If there are not enough rooms they share a single bed sleeping top and tail so that Geordie’s feet are in Bob’s face.

The rooms were very small with only space for a single bed and a small cupboard. This picture is created from a report produced in 1890.


Here is the whole song

KEEP YOUR FEET STILL, GEORDIE HINNY
Air (or Teun) – “My Darling Nellie Grey”

Wor Geordey an' Bob Jonsin byeth lay i' one bed,
Iv a little lodgjin hoose that's doon the shore,
Before Bob had been an' oor asleep, a kick frae Geordey's fut
Myed him wakin up to roar instead o' snore.

KORUS

Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet,
For aw mayn’t be se happy throo the day.
So give us that bit cumfort, --keep yor feet still, Geordey lad,
An' divvent send maw bonny dreams away!"

Aw dreamt thor was a dancin held, an' Mary Clark wes there;
An' aw thowt we tript it leetly on the floor,
An' aw prest her heevin breest te mine when walsin roond the room,
That's mair than aw dor ivor de before.

KORUS-- Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet, &c

Ye'll knaw the lad that she gans with, they call him Jimmy Green,
Aw thowt he tried te spoil us i' wor fun,
But aw dreamt aw nail'd him heavy, an' blackt the big feul's eyes;
If aw'd slept it's hard to tell what aw wad deun.

KORUS-- Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet, &c

Aw thowt aw set her hyem that neet, content we went alang.
Aw kiss'd her lips a hundred times or mair,
An' aw wish'd the road wad nivor end, se happy like wes aw,
Aw cud waak'd a thoosind miles wi' Mary there!

KORUS-- Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet, &c

Aw dremt Jim Green had left the toon an' left his luv te me,
An' aw thowt the hoose wis furnish'd wi' the best,
An' aw dreamt aw just had left the church wi' Mary be me side,
When yor clumsy feet completely spoil'd the rest."

KORUS—Keep yor feet still! Geordey, hinny, let's be happy for the neet, &c

And you can listen to it here:

[media=https://youtu.be/ia-kPxqc-T8]