Where hast’te been, ma’ canny hinny?

An where hast’te been, ma’ bonny bairn?

Aw was up and down seekin ma’ hinny,

Aw was thro’ the town seekin for my bairn;

Aw went up the Butcher Bank and down Grundin Chare,

Call’d at the Dun Cow, but aw cuddent find thee there.

Then aw went t’ th’ Cassel Garth, and caw’d on Johnny Fife.

The beer drawer tell’d me she ne’er saw thee in her life.

Then aw went into the three bulls heads, and down the Lang Stairs,

And a’ the way alang the Close, as far as Mr Mayor’s.

Fra there aw went alang the brig, an up t’ Jackson’s Chare,

Then back again t’ the Cross Keys, but cuddent find thee there.

Then comin out o’ Pipergate, aw met wi’ Willy Rigg,

Whe tell’d me that he saw thee stannin p——n on the brig.

Cummin alang the brig again, aw met wi’ Cristy Gee,

He tell’d me et he saw thee gannin down Humeses entery.

Where hev aw been! aw sune can tell ye that;

Cummin up the Key, aw met wi’ Peter Pratt,

Meetin Peter Pratt, we met wi’ Tommy Wear,

An went t’ Humeses t’ get a gill o’ beer.

There’s where a’ve been, ma’ canny hinny,

There’s where a’ve been, ma’ bonny lam.

Wast’tu up an down seekin for yur hinny?

Wast’tu up an down seeking for yur lam.

Then aw met yur Ben, an we were like to fight;

An when we cam to Sandgate it was pick night;

Crossin the road, aw met wi’ Bobby Swinny:

Hing on the girdle, let’s hev a singin hinny.