Jinny Greenteeth

In th’old mill dam,  behind’t stone wall, Jinny Greenteeth comes to call

She’s slithered through from’t outflow beck

For naughty kids she’ll have a sneck

Her teeth are sharp, her fingers cold, so you better do what you’ve been told

Don’t stir her up, don’t dare throw stones, or she’ll suck yer blood and chew the bones

 

In the treetops in the moonlight, slithering and slinking

Old Jinny comes a-calling, listen for her wailing and her moaning

And you might just feel a shiver if she is near yer

If you say you’re no believer, pray to god you never ever see her

          It’s the naughty child that’s brought her

          Doesn’t care if it’s your son or daughter

          You’ll not see her you’ll not find her

          Never been a one that’s caught her

 

Could be lurking by the river, see the reeds quiver

In the stagnant slime and slither, making all the pretty flowers wither

By the cut or in the mill dam, watching and waiting

Down a well or in the sewer, you would keep your distance if you knew her

          It's the naughty child...etc

 

The days grow short, the morning’s dark,  wrap up when playing down the park

Ice is forming on the lake, it’s very thin, might quickly break

Old Jinny’s lurking thereabouts, fed up with childrens’ happy shouts

She sets her trap with evil grin, be careful or you might fall in

 

Johnny Clegg and Slubbin’ Billy acting quite silly

Cobbin’ stones into the water, trying to impress the vicar’s daughter

Sally Day and Sally Porter, heed what we taught yer

Never let old Jinny spy yer, dangling your toes into the water

          It's the naughty child...etc

 

You won’t see her fingers reaching, beckoning, twitching

Down a grid she may be sleeping, waiting for the twilight to come creeping

So if you’re playing by the water. do what we’ve taught yer

Don’t be the naughty child that’s brought her, she will not go home if Jinny’s caught her

          It's the naughty child...etc

 

Some say she’s just a figment

An invention of your mum

And kids are only playing games

And scream that Jinny’s come

But walk alone at midnight

By the river or the beck

You’ll know when Jinny’s seen yer

You’ll get shivers down yer neck

 

[Thick ice forming on the water 

Never been a one that’s caught her

Stay out of the water]

 

Tallyman

Was hardly a street in my old home town

That you didn’t see the tallyman creeping down

Children shouting at the backyard gate

Warning their mother of impending fate

Shouting at the backyard gate

 

Running quickly to a neighbour’s house

Crouching in the cellar be as quiet as a mouse

Some take refuge underneath the stair

Wonder how it got to this state of affairs

Hiding underneath the stairs

 

Thursday comes and the tension mounts

The day when the debtors get brought to account

Find them hiding by the back yard wall

Waiting for the time when the tallyman calls

Waiting for the tallyman’s call

 

Nice as pie when he makes a sale

Even though his prices are beyond the pale

See him turn when the debt’s not paid

Quick to remind you of the bargain that you made

See him when the debt's not paid

 

"Whose fault was it that you made the deal?

Got no sympathy for how you feel"

"But how do you know that you won’t be next?

Years of debt and your future wrecked

Do you know that you might be next"

 

 Was hardly a street in my old home town

That you didn’t see the tallyman creeping down

Children shouting at the backyard gate

Warning their mother of impending fate

Shouting at the backyard gate

 

 

A Handloom Weaver’s Tale

I am a handloom weaver lass

Here sitting at me loom

And staring at the loneliness

That shrouds this empty room

The work is gone, me family too

So no one hears me cry

But I’ll weave my tale ‘til I die

 

One day the jagger came to call

To make his last exchange

For no one buys a single bale

The world around has changed

It all belongs to industry

That’s grown up in the town

And the masters who shut us down

 

I see the smoke roll up the hill

And hear the engines roar

I see the bands of pilgrims as

They wander past my door

They’re on their way to find a job

Their bellies to be fed

If they work in line in the sheds

 

They say that I should join them

There’s a room that I can rent

With wages at the end o’t week

And tick when that is spent

All they want’s commitment to

A “fair ten hour shift”

While the rich build mansions from our thrift

 

There’s word they’ve got a school for us

A place for children’s play

A shop to buy yer vittals  

And a chapel where to pray

The master grants protection for

A small deducted fee

Toe the line you’ll never be in need

 

I am a handloom weaver lass

My skills you don’t demand

No economic benefit

I offer to this land

You’re tied to mass production

Ruled by profit at my loss

And my voice will be forever lost