The history and politics of the English protest song

1871

Perseveer; or, The Nine Oors Movemint [sic]

Tune: Nelly Ray
Lyrics: Matthew Dryden

Yen Munday neet aw went oot just te have a walk,
When aw met a chep frae Sunderland, an’ we got on te tawk;
He says Wor workin clivvor noo, an’ likely for te thrive,
We've got the Nine Oors Movemint noo, an’ we drop wor work at five.
Perseveer! Perseveer! awl ye that’s sitin’ here!
Perseveer! Perseveer! they’ve gettin’t on the Wear!
Ye men upon the banks o’ Tyne aw think thor’s little fear,
But ye’ll get the Nine Oors Movemint if ye only perseveer!

Says aw, Me man, aw think yor reet biv aw that aw can reed;
But mind ye myed a gallant fite before ye did succeed.
Se tell yor mates at Sunderland, when ye gan ower hyem,
That wor lads aboot Newcassel thor gawn to be the syem!
Perseveer! &c.

He says, Yor tawkin like a man, for aw really think it’s time:
If the movemint pays upon the Wear it’ll pay upon the Tyne;
Yor workin men they’ve been lang famed, aw hope they’ll keep thor nyem;
They helpt us ower at Sunderland, so we’ll help them back agyen!
Perseveer! &c.

Noo, strikes are what aw divvent like, but if they’ll not agree,
We’ll heh to be like Sunderland, an’ close wor factories, tee;
The maistors then’ll start te fret, and own ’it they were rang;
It’s then they’ll see they cannot de withoot the working man.
Perseveer! &c.

Aw myek nee doot wor maistors think they’ll just de what they like,
For they knaw it hurts a workin man when he hes te cum to strike;
But if we prove as true as steel wor maistors will be fast,
Thor contracts mun be finished, so they will give in at last.
Perseveer! &c.

Lyrics

Set to a recent love song’s tune, there is nothing romantic about this fervent Tyneside contribution to the Great Engineers’ Strike of 1871. Written in Geordie dialect, it exhorts its audience of workers to hold firm, holding out the example of successful industrial action on Wearside. Imagining a dialogue with a Sunderland worker, it plays upon ideas of masculinity, justice, solidarity – and envy.

Cause: Unionist | Collectivist
Theme: Impact of Change | Rights
Addressed to: Workers
Target of Protest: Bosses | Industry
Proposal/Solution: Strike | Organisation