"Whereivvor Ye Gan Ye’re Sure Te Find a Geordie"

 

A few days ago I paid one of my regular visits to the Lake District for a wander across the fells. My wife and I are trying to bag the 214 Wainwrights, so we're always out there traipsing through the bogs and the varying weather. It is very beautiful, though, as I am sure you well know - if a little 'hairy' at times!

And, not for the first time, we bumped into a pair of Geordies out there, quite in the middle of nowhere. We were ascending Sale Fell, and another couple of fellwalkers were coming down. We exchanged pleasantries, before discovering that we all hailed from 'Geordieland'.

We acted as if we were surprised, but, you know, this seems to happen a heck of a lot. And every time I am reminded of that popular local ditty Whereivvor Ye Gan Ye're Sure Te Find a Geordie. Except this time I decided to follow up my little 'mental prompt' and find out a little more about the song. First of all, though, here it is in full:

WHEREIVVOR YE GAN YE'RE SURE TE FIND A GEORDIE 

By Jack Robson (1885-1957) - pictured above

Whereivvor ye gan ye're sure te find a Geordie 

Whereivvor ye gan ye'll hear the Geordie twang

From Land's End up te John O'Groats

From Galway Bay te Cullercoats 

Ye're sure te meet a Geordie in the thrang.

 

An' if someday you take a trip to London 

Ne need to wear that lost and lonely air 

Sing Blaydon Races doon the Strand 

An' somebody's sure te grab yer hand 

Whereivvor ye gan the Geordie will be there. 

Whereivvor ye gan ye're sure te find a Geordie 

Whereivvor ye gan yer native tongue ye'll hear 

In ivvory place across the sea 

It makes ne odds where it might be 

Ye'll sure to hear a Geordie say 'Wot Cheor'. 

From canny Newcassell, Sunderland or Gatesheed

From Tyne and Wear ye'll meet them ivvorywhere 

There's isn't a spot that ye can name 

But somebody wants the news from yem 

Whereivvor ye gan the Geordie will be there. 

Whereivvor ye gan ye're sure te find a Geordie 

They're scattered aboot in regions hot an' caad 

An' ye can bet a silver croon 

When rockets land upon the Moon 

There'll be a Geordie yellin' 'Keep Ahad'. 

So here's a song me canny lads to cheor ye 

For after aall there's comfort ye can share

That when yer orthly days are past 

And ye hev to leave this warld at last 

Whereivvor ye gan a Geordie will be there. 

Whereivvor ye gan a Geordie will be there.

Whereivvor ye gan a Geordie will be there. 

Glossary: whereivvor - wherever; gan - go; thrang - throng; ne - no; doon - down; ivvory - every; wot cheor - what cheer; canny - fine, nice, pleasant; yem - home; aboot - about; caad - cold; croon - crown; keep ahad - keep a hold, keep a grip; aall - all; orthly - earthly; warld - world.

It is worth pointing out that at the time this song was composed the term 'Geordie' was an all-exclusive term for pretty much the whole of the region - as can be discerned from mention of Sunderland in the lyrics. And when exactly was it written? Well, I'm not sure; but it was used as the theme tune to the popular radio show, Wot Cheor, Geordie. from 1947 to the late 1950s.

As for Jack Robson himself, well, I can do no more than refer you to Roly Veitch's excellent tribute page.

And Roly Veitch himself is also a performer, and can be found singing the grand old song on YouTube. There are two versions, here and here. Enjoy!