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Description: | Song about gin. To be sung to the tune of 'Drop of brandy'.This song relates the drunken escapades of a local pitman at Newcastle Fair. Finding the brandy and other drinks available at the fair too expensive, he is persuaded to try a 'drop o' wour Jacky', with disastrous results on his bladder. 'Jacky' was a local term for English gin, the drink being known by various names throughout the country. It was common in the early nineteenth century for the working class to drink gin, as at this time it was far more affordable than beer or other spirits.'Newcastle Fair' was written by local brewery owner James Stawpert. Author of 'Trafalgar's battle' and 'John Diggons', Stawpert is a lesser known author of Tyneside songs. Stawpert died on the 12th March, 1814 aged twenty nine.Newcastle was the second largest producer of chapbooks in the country at the time of this book's publication. 'The Newcastle Songster' was printed by J. Marshall, one of the most prominent chapbook printers in Newcastle during the early nineteenth century. It is rather difficult to date the book, but as we know that Marshall didn't move to his Flesh Market premises until 1811, it is possible to say that it certainly wasn't published before this date. The appearance of much of the books contents in John Bell's 'Rhymes of the Northern Bards', published in 1812, could also indicate that the book was printed around the same time. However which was printed first, can not be established for certain.The book contains some of the region's best known traditional songs. From 'The Skipper's Wedding' to 'Newcastle Fair', the book has offerings from well known Tyneside composers such as John Selkirk and would have been extremely popular among the local population. ; Popular Tyneside songs published in chapbook form. | Publisher: | J. Marshall Old Flesh Market, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear | Rights holder: | rights holder : Newcastle University | Subjects: | entertainment and sport & festivities drinking & leisure drinking & gin & entertainment & fairs | Temporal: | start=1801;end=1840; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:N0700401 | Go to resource |
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