Yorkshire Dialect

A Story, Anthem and Rhyme in Yorkshire Dialect

When I was a little girl in the late '50s, my Grandma Howson, a Yorkshire lass to the bone,  used to sit me on her knee and tell me all the usual rhymes and stories, but here is a story, anthem and rhyme in Yorkshire dialect that are unique to Yorkshire.

They really got me laughing. I hope they amuse you, too!

NB please don't try your Google Translator on this page - it won't work!!

A Rhyme in Yorkshire Dialect
 'Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea'


Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Munday  ‘cos it’s mi weshin’ day
An’ ah’m weshin’ an’ weshin’ mi clooars away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Tuesday  ‘cos it’s mi manglin’ day
An’ ah’m manglin an’ manglin mi clooars away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Wensday  ‘cos it’s mi dryin’ day
An’ ah’m dryin’ an’ dryin’ mi clooars away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Thursday  ‘cos it’s mi airin’ day
An’ ah’m airin’ an’ airin’ mi clooars away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Friday  ‘cos it’s mi ironin’ day
An’ ah’m ironin’ an’ ironin’ mi clooars away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Sat’day  ‘cos it’s mi dancin’ day
An’ ah’m dancin an’ dancin mi tootsies away

Ayh, ah wud like t’ gi’ thee a gud cup o’ tea
If  tha’d on’y cum ont’ reight day
But tha mon’t cum on Sunday  ‘cos it’s mi churchin’ day
An’ ah’m prayin’ an’ prayin mi clooars’ll go away

A Story in Yorkshire Dialect

 'Two Duck Eggs'

Mi muther sent mi t’t’ corner shop for two duck eggs fo’ mi father’s tea.

So ah sed t’t’ woman “Can ah ‘ave two duck eggs for mi father’s tea?”

Ah put one in this pocket and one in that pocket...

 [the teller’s hands demonstrate putting one egg in the left thigh pocket and one in the right]

Aartside t’shop ah saw arh Judy [pet dog] an’ ah shouted “Judy Judy Judy”

[the teller demonstrates the summoning of the dog by enthusiastically slapping his thighs]

 An’ mi poor father’s duck eggs went west!

[the result is left to the listener’s imagination]

'On Ilkla Moor baht 'at'
(The Yorkshire Anthem)

(lyrics)
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee,
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
Wheear 'as ta bin sin ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
 
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
Tha's bahn t'catch thi deeath o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at vThen we shall ha' to bury thee
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
Then t'worms 'll cum and eat thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
Then ducks 'll cum and eat oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
Then we shall go an' ate oop ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at 

That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at