The Blaydon Races lyrics in full so you can impress your friends with the Geordie anthem

The very mention of The Blaydon Races will have Geordies humming along to the famous tune, even if they're not quite sure of the words .

But now you can be the envy of all your mates by learning the lyrics in full. While many may know the opening couplet, and the fact that the runners of the race inspired by the song will be indeed "gannin' along Scotswood Road", what about the rest of the song?

So, to put them to shame and ensure that you can be fully versed in the entire Geordie anthem, here we give you the Blaydon Races song lyrics as quoted from the author's manuscript as first published in Allan’s book of Tyneside Songs in 1862. And, yes, there are some odd spellings but all the better to help wannabe Geordies to pronounce them!

• Read more: 57 Geordie words, phrases and sayings you'll only hear someone from Newcastle say

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The Blaydon Races lyrics in full

Ah went to Blaydon Races, ‘twas on the ninth of Joon,

In eighteen hundred an’ sixty-two, on a summer’s efternoon;

Ah tyuk the ‘bus frae Balmbra’s, an’ she wis heavy laden,

Away we went alang Collingwood Street, that’s on the road to Blaydon.

Chorus

Ah me lads, ye shudda seen us gannin’,

We pass’d the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin’;

Thor wes lots o’ lads an’ lasses there, all wi’ smiling faces,

Gannin alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.

Second verse

We flew past Airmstrang’s factory, and up to the "Robin Adair",

Just gannin’ doon te the railway bridge, the ‘bus wheel flew off there.

The lasses lost their crinolines off, an’ the veils that hide their faces,

An’ aw got two black eyes an’ a broken nose in gan te Blaydon Races.

(Chorus)

When we gat the wheel put on away we went agyen,

But them that had their noses broke they cam back ower hyem;

Sum went to the Dispensary an’ uthers to Doctor Gibbs,

An’ sum sought out the Infirmary to mend their broken ribs.

(Chorus)

Noo when we gat to Paradise thor wes bonny gam begun;

Thor was fower-an-twenty on the ‘bus, man, hoo they danced an’ sung;

They called on me to sing a sang, aw sung them "Paddy Fagan",

Aw danced a jig an’ swung my twig that day aw went to Blaydon.

(Chorus)

We flew across the Chain Bridge reet into Blaydon toon,

The bellman he was callin’ there, they call him Jackie Brown;

Aw saw him talkin’ to sum cheps, an’ them he was pursuadin’

To gan an’ see Geordy Ridley’s concert in the Mechanics’ Hall at Blaydon.

(Chorus)

The rain it poor’d aw the day an’ myed the groons quite muddy,

Coffy Johnny had a white hat on - they war shootin’ "Whe stole the cuddy."

There wes spice stalls an’ munkey shows an’ aud wives selling ciders,

An’ a chep wiv a hapenny roond aboot, shootin’ "Noo, me boys, for riders."