..Wigan Dialect

A Collection of Lancashire Dialect Poems, Photographs, Phrases & Sayings from around the Wigan area. By Jeff Unsworth

Three Brass Baws

( To read the translation of this poem click here )

Three Brass Baws

Neaw, there were two partc'lar popshops,
That were visitid reg'lar wi goods.
One wuz at ince bar, cawd Lygoes,
Un tuther wuz owd Johnny Woods.

On aceawnt of there be'in no money.
Popshop wuz mi mam's only chance.
On monday her popped aw dads jackits,
Un tuesday her popped aw his pants.

Neaw. Mi dad he knowed nowt abeawt it.
Well ! thats what mi mam would think.
If he'd known aw his cloo'us where miss'in.
It where cert'in there'd be a big stink

Her towd im , her'd takk'n um cleaners
They'd bi ready for friday . no deawt.
Her'd redeem um, sponge um ,un press um.
Un thats eaw he neyer font eawt.

Neaw , it were diff'runt when it involved childer.
Of a provident cheque , her were fain.
Cos owt that her bowt wuz only wore wonc't.
Then nobody see'd um again.

It were queer eawt beddin went miss'in.
Upstairs at neet,we'd aw trundle.
We'd notice aw't coats un breawn papp'er on't bed.
Cos wi't blankets her'd made up a bundle.

Her used have a debt bag, under her brat.
Un her walked as though her ad rickits
Un when her dropped dee'ud, we font that owd bag.
Her wuz weighed deawn wi aw popshop tickits.