Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems






Dean't mak gam o' me (1875)

     Florence Tweddell

     I went last week to Stowslay(1) Fair,
        My sweetheart for to see;
     She promis'd she would meet me there-
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     I rigg'd misel' all i' my best,
        As fine as fine could be;
     An' little thowt how things would to'n(2);
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     I walk'd to t' toon, an' bowt a cane,
        To cut a dash, ye see;
     An' how I swagger'd up an' doon!
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     I thowt, if nobbut Poll would come,
        How happy we sud be!
     I'd treat her into t' penny show,
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me :
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     At last I saw her coomin' in;
        Bud what else did I see?
     Jack Hodge was walkin' biv her saade!
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     Stright up I went, an' "Poll!" says I,
        "I's waiting, lass, for thee!"
     "Then thoo mun wait!" was all she said,
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     She teak Jack's airm, an' there I stead
        Quite flabbergash'd, ye see:
     I thowt I sud hav dropt to t' grund,
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     Poor Nancy Green com seaglin'(3) up,
        "What's matter, Dick?" says she:
     "Jack Hodge is off wi' Poll!" says I,
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me:
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     "Why, niver maand her; let her gan ;
        She's better gean!" said she:
     Bud I thowt nut; an' then I cried,
        Bud dean't mak gam o' me :
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     I's nobbut a poor country lad
        At's lost my heart, ye see:
     I'll gan nea mair to t' Pomesun Fair,(4)
        Sea dean't mak gam o' me :
           Oh, dean't mak gam o' me!

     1. Stokesley.  2. Turn out.  3. Sauntering.
     4. The fair held at Stokesley on the
        Saturday before Palm Sunday

All books are sourced from Project Gutenberg