Oh my name is Geordie Black and I'm getting very old

And I've hewed tons of coal in my time

When I was a lad I could either put or hew

Out of the other ones I would always take the shine

Now I'm going down the bank and I cannot use my pick

And the master has no pity on old bones

Are you new or on the bank in amongst the bits of lads

Up upon the heath a-picking stones



Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack

And I've worked both the Gus and the Betty

And for coals upon the Tyne out of the others I would take the shine

And lick them all for iron down at Hawks's



Now when I was just a lad carried on my father's back

He would take me away to the pit

And getting in the cage and then going down below

Was enough to make a youngster take a fit

To sit and keep the door in the darkness and the gloom

And many a weary hour by myself

And to hear the awful shots as they rumbled around the pit

And the lumps of roondy coal come down pell mell



Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack

And I've worked both the Gus and the Betty

And for coals upon the Tyne out of the others I would take the shine

And lick them all for iron down at Hawks's



Now I'll bid you all goodnight for it's nearly time to lowse

And I hope I've tried to please you everyone

Mind you pray tonight and do all the things that's right

For in this world that's the way to get along

Now here's success to trade for on the Wear and Tyne

I don't like to see the faces slack

For if the pits lie idle then no wages come today

It grieves the heart of poor Geordie Black



Oh my name is Geordie Black in my time I've been a crack

And I've worked both the Gus and the