1876 Drownings - a Poem - Revision history

Steve: Addition of category

2024-03-03T16:47:27Z

Addition of category

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 3 March 2024
Line 100:		Line 100:
	It has a modern meaning:<br>		It has a modern meaning:<br>
	You must learn how to swim.		You must learn how to swim.
			[[Category:Songs and Poems]]

Steve: Formatting

2024-01-21T13:54:49Z

Formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 21 January 2024
Line 1:		Line 1:
	THE SAD STORY OF WILLIE WILSON AND JOHNNY ARMSTRONG		THE SAD STORY OF WILLIE WILSON AND JOHNNY ARMSTRONG

	There was a house in Percy Street,		There was a house in Percy Street,<br>
	Where this true story starts		Where this true story starts<br>
	A story with a meaning		A story with a meaning<br>
	To take into your hearts.		To take into your hearts.

	One day in eighteen seventy six		One day in eighteen seventy six<br>
	One morning, half past nine,		One morning, half past nine,<br>
	Two lads set off together		Two lads set off together<br>
	To fish the River Tyne.		To fish the River Tyne.

	Willie took his fishing rod,		Willie took his fishing rod,<br>
	A present from his Dad		A present from his Dad<br>
	His pride and joy, a cherished gift,		His pride and joy, a cherished gift,<br>
	The best he’d ever had.		The best he’d ever had.

	The pair ran through the Station Yard,		The pair ran through the Station Yard,<br>
	The fishing rod held high,		The fishing rod held high,<br>
	The station master saw them run,		The station master saw them run,<br>
	And gave a mighty sigh.		And gave a mighty sigh.

	“Stop, stop!” he cried with all his might,		“Stop, stop!” he cried with all his might,<br>
	The River Tyne’s in flood,		The River Tyne’s in flood,<br>
	Turn back,” he cried, “Turn back, my boys,		Turn back,” he cried, “Turn back, my boys,<br>
	Turn back, you know you should!”		Turn back, you know you should!”

	The boys heard not the master’s words,		The boys heard not the master’s words,<br>
	Or did not care to hear,		Or did not care to hear,<br>
	Intent upon the fishing pool,		Intent upon the fishing pool,<br>
	A place they held so dear.		A place they held so dear.

	They thought the fishing pool looked safe,		They thought the fishing pool looked safe,<br>
	But fish were not about,		But fish were not about,<br>
	So Willie took his fishing rod		So Willie took his fishing rod<br>
	And waded further out.		And waded further out.

	As Willie waded further out,		As Willie waded further out,<br>
	His foot caught on a rock,		His foot caught on a rock,<br>
	He forward fell and with a cry		He forward fell and with a cry<br>
	Went under with the shock.		Went under with the shock.

	The fishing rod, his pride and joy,		The fishing rod, his pride and joy,<br>
	Fell quickly from his hand,		Fell quickly from his hand,<br>
	And left poor Willie splashing		And left poor Willie splashing<br>
	And trying hard to stand.		And trying hard to stand.

	As Willie could not swim a stroke,		As Willie could not swim a stroke,<br>
	His panic grew and grew,		His panic grew and grew,<br>
	He slipped beneath the water		He slipped beneath the water <br>
	And disappeared from view.		And disappeared from view.

	And Johnny heard the shouting.		And Johnny heard the shouting.<br>
	Just what was he to do?		Just what was he to do?<br>
	He too went in the water		He too went in the water<br>
	And disappeared from view.		And disappeared from view.

	Now Father Tyne, that lovely stream,		Now Father Tyne, that lovely stream,<br>
	Held in his waves the two:		Held in his waves the two:<br>
	One friend drowned with the other,		One friend drowned with the other,<br>
	And disappeared from view.		And disappeared from view.

	A tailor chanced upon the scene		A tailor chanced upon the scene<br>
	And soon became aware		And soon became aware<br>
	That things were going really wrong		That things were going really wrong<br>
	And tried to save the pair.		And tried to save the pair.

	He went into the water		He went into the water<br>
	And waded out anew		And waded out anew<br>
	To help the two lads in their plight		To help the two lads in their plight<br>
	But disappeared from view.		But disappeared from view.

	A bobby was the next to come		A bobby was the next to come<br>
	Upon this sorry scene		Upon this sorry scene<br>
	But found he could do nothing		But found he could do nothing<br>
	For no one could be seen.		For no one could be seen.

	So Father Tyne upon that day		So Father Tyne upon that day<br>
	Had human lives for tea		Had human lives for tea<br>
	And pulled beneath his waves		And pulled beneath his waves<br>
	Not one, nor two but three.		Not one, nor two but three.

	The fishing rod was later found		The fishing rod was later found<br>
	Washed safe upon the shore,		Washed safe upon the shore,<br>
	Without its grateful owner		Without its grateful owner<br>
	For Willie was no more.		For Willie was no more.

	But, if you walk through Station Yard		But, if you walk through Station Yard<br>
	Where once our two lads trod,		Where once our two lads trod,<br>
	The ghost of Willie’s often seen		The ghost of Willie’s often seen<br>
	Still looking for his rod.		Still looking for his rod.

	Still looking for his fishing rod,		Still looking for his fishing rod,<br>
	A present from his Dad,		A present from his Dad,<br>
	His prized possession, pride and joy,		His prized possession, pride and joy,<br>
	The best he’d ever had.		The best he’d ever had.

	This is a sad old story		This is a sad old story<br>
	From times long past and dim:		From times long past and dim:<br>
	It has a modern meaning:		It has a modern meaning:<br>
	You must learn how to swim.		You must learn how to swim.

Steve: Initial Content

2024-01-21T13:52:50Z

Initial Content

New page

THE SAD STORY OF WILLIE WILSON AND JOHNNY ARMSTRONG

There was a house in Percy Street,
Where this true story starts
A story with a meaning
To take into your hearts.

One day in eighteen seventy six
One morning, half past nine,
Two lads set off together
To fish the River Tyne.

Willie took his fishing rod,
A present from his Dad
His pride and joy, a cherished gift,
The best he’d ever had.

The pair ran through the Station Yard,
The fishing rod held high,
The station master saw them run,
And gave a mighty sigh.

“Stop, stop!” he cried with all his might,
The River Tyne’s in flood,
Turn back,” he cried, “Turn back, my boys,
Turn back, you know you should!”

The boys heard not the master’s words,
Or did not care to hear,
Intent upon the fishing pool,
A place they held so dear.

They thought the fishing pool looked safe,
But fish were not about,
So Willie took his fishing rod
And waded further out.

As Willie waded further out,
His foot caught on a rock,
He forward fell and with a cry
Went under with the shock.

The fishing rod, his pride and joy,
Fell quickly from his hand,
And left poor Willie splashing
And trying hard to stand.

As Willie could not swim a stroke,
His panic grew and grew,
He slipped beneath the water
And disappeared from view.

And Johnny heard the shouting.
Just what was he to do?
He too went in the water
And disappeared from view.

Now Father Tyne, that lovely stream,
Held in his waves the two:
One friend drowned with the other,
And disappeared from view.

A tailor chanced upon the scene
And soon became aware
That things were going really wrong
And tried to save the pair.

He went into the water
And waded out anew
To help the two lads in their plight
But disappeared from view.

A bobby was the next to come
Upon this sorry scene
But found he could do nothing
For no one could be seen.

So Father Tyne upon that day
Had human lives for tea
And pulled beneath his waves
Not one, nor two but three.

The fishing rod was later found
Washed safe upon the shore,
Without its grateful owner
For Willie was no more.

But, if you walk through Station Yard
Where once our two lads trod,
The ghost of Willie’s often seen
Still looking for his rod.

Still looking for his fishing rod,
A present from his Dad,
His prized possession, pride and joy,
The best he’d ever had.

This is a sad old story
From times long past and dim:
It has a modern meaning:
You must learn how to swim.