Poems and Lancashire Songs :: :: University of Virginia Library

Come, what's th' use o' fratchin' lads, this life's noan so lung,
So, if yo'n gether reawnd, aw'll try my hond at a sung;
It may shew a guidin' glimmer to some wand'rer astray,
Or, haply, gi' some poor owd soul a lift on the way:
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
Or, haply, gi' some poor owd soul a lift on the way.

266

II

Life's road's full o' ruts; it's very slutchy an' it's dree;
An' mony a worn-eawt limper lies him deawn there to dee;
Then, fleawnd'rin low i'th gutter, he looks reawnd wi' dismay,
To see if aught i'th world can give a lift on the way:
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
To see if aught i'th world can give a lift on the way.

III

There's some folk 'at mun trudge it, an' there's some folk 'at may ride,
But, never mortal mon con tell what chance may betide;

267

To-day, he may be blossomin', like roses i' May;
To-morn, he may be beggin' for a lift on the way:
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
To-morn, he may be beggin' for a lift on the way.

IV

Good-will, it's a jewel, where there's little else to spare;
An' a mon may help another though his pouch may be bare;
A gen'rous heart, like sunshine, brings good cheer in its ray,
An' a friendly word can sometimes give a lift on the way:
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
An' a friendly word can sometimes give a lift on the way.

268

V

Like posies that are parchin' in the midsummer sun,
There's mony a poor heart faints afore the journey be run;
Let's lay the dust wi' kindness, till the close of the day,
An' gi' these droopin' travellers a lift on the way:
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
An' gi' these droopin' travellers a lift on the way.

VI

Oh, soft be his pillow, when he sinks deawn to his rest,
That can keep the lamp o' charity alive in his breast;
May pleasant feelin's haunt him as he's dozin' away,
An' angels give him, up aboon, a lift on the way:

269

A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
An' angels give him, up aboon, a lift on the way.

VII

Jog on, my noble comrades, then; an'—so mote it be,—
That hond in hond we travel till the day that we dee;
An' neaw, to end my ditty, lads, let's heartily pray
That heaven may give us ev'ry one a lift on the way!
A lift on the way;
A lift on the way;
That heaven may give us ev'ry one a lift on the way!

Fratchin', quarrelling.

Slutchy, miry.

Dree, wearily-continuous.

Aboon, above.

So mote it be, so might it be.