Yorkshire Dialect Poems (1673-1915) and traditional poems

Harvest Home and the Mell-Sheaf(1)

     1. The " mell " is the last sheaf of corn left in the field
        when the harvest is gathered in.

We have her, we have her,
     A coo iv a tether.
     At oor toon-end.
     A yowe(1) an' a lamb,
     A pot an' a pan.
     May we git seafe in
     Wiv oor harvest-yam,
     Wiv a sup o' good yal,
     An' some ha'pence to spend.

     3. Ewe.


     Here we coom at oor toon-end,
     A pint o' yal an' a croon to spend.
     Here we coom as tite as nip(1)
     An' niver flang ower(2) but yance iv a grip.(3)

     1. Very quickly.   2. Tumbled.   3. Ditch.

Weel bun' an' better shorn
     Is Mr. Readheead's corn.
     We have her, we have her,
     As fast as a feather.
           Hip, hip, hurrah!
        Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

John Metcalfe has gitten all shorn an' mawn,
     All but a few standards an' a bit o' lowse corn.
           We have her, we have her,
           Fast i' a tether
           Coom help us to hod her.
              Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Blest be t' day that Christ was born,
     For we've getten t' mell o' t' farmer's corn.
     It's weel bun', but better shorn.
           Mell! Shout, lads, Mell!