Hello Bryan. I'm very sorry for the long delay in replying. I have a few KZfaq comments that somehow slipped through the net. My sincere condolences at the loss of your mother. My own mum passed away 3rd August 2017, three years yesterday and for very similar reasons I understand your deep feelings. I hope things are a bit better now and send my best wishes.

@@BlaydonAces Good memories I lived in Long Row South Same age as you All the best .

My mom did too 😊I hope you feel more joy hearing this now.

Same here Bryan. It seems the singing in the family is a thing of the past.

@@hamishmacgregor4264 It's not true...I'm only just mid 50s and I sang every song from days so far past - nursery rhymes, sea shanties, local songs, and everything to my children when they were young (now adults) as my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had sung to me in their turn. My grandparents were born in 1920 and 1925, both sides more or less, and I also knew 2 great-grandparents..one each side...born in 1889...who lived until 1979 - and I'm a Border Reiver both sides of the border...so my surname and other family names are both Scottish, as my family is, and from the border...also Scottish..and at times, English... "A thing of the past"...? That's your experience...it's never been mine...and I'm still sharing all those songs and the stories and the history now in another country where I teach English..and I joined a choir in that country I now live and we sing songs from 200/300 years ago in that language..it might be the past...but it informs our lives now and we should still share it with others..

Thanks Timothy. It's a great song. One of the best of the dialect repertoire. Glad you liked it. Best wishes. Roly.

I agree it is a lovely tune and it certainly enjoys great popularity.

Hello Francesca. It's a great local song. Hope it brought back some nice memories. If you check out my playlists you might find other things of local interest that you might enjoy. Best wishes. Roly

@@BlaydonAces I will definitely check out your playlist. Thanks.

Hello Derek. Well, there have certainly been a lot of changes and not all for the better. Thanks for listening and commenting. Best wishes. Roly.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Best wishes from Canny Tyneside. Roly.

Hope she enjoyed this version. Best wishes Roly

Hello Julie. It's a great song. One of the best of our heritage of dialect songs.

Thanks Peter. Best wishes Roly

Hello Josh. I'm sorry for the long delay in replying. Some of my KZfaq comments slipped through the net. I don't know if you made progress. I don't recognise those lyrics from the songs I know or the few books I have on the local songs. If I do come across any clues I'll get back to you. Roly

@@BlaydonAces After many years I finally found it. It's called Geordie Sunday by Jack Charlton, it's less of a traditional song and more of a story. I found out later on that it was a cassette made for my grandad by his nephew and that's why no results were found when I was searching the other songs on the tape.

@@joshadams8276 Glad you found it Josh. Regards. Roly

Thanks very much Robert.

Thanks Jonathan. I don't mind sharing, glad you like it. Best wishes Roly

Hello Jeffrey - I'm not sure what to say. I perform these songs in my own way but I try to be respectful of the tradition. I accept that some listeners will like what I do and some will not. Everyone has their own tastes. Best wishes. Roly

Hello Ciaran - there do seem to be different opinions as to the origins of this song's lyrics and melody. It has though been a very popular folk song here on Tyneside and the north east of England since way back. Best wishes. Roly

Might have come across a bit rude in my previous comment apologies. Think Bobby Shafto lived in a house near Spennymoor so I'd always assumed this was a South Durham folk song ! Nice cover though enjoyed it

Not at all Ciaran. Yes I've read he was from Spennymoor, a local MP. There are other theories, some outlined on Wikipedia. Also some say the melody was actually borrowed from an earlier song. Some say it came originally from Ireland. An interesting debate. It's a great song anyway. I must admit I label my songs 'Tyneside' just for brevity, some of the songs I've recorded could be more accurately labelled Northumbrian. Thanks for taking an interest. Regards. Roly

@@BlaydonAces Bobby Shafto is in the Beuk o’ Newcassell Sangs Collected by Joseph Crawhall 1888

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Shafto%27s_Gone_to_Sea