Lancashire Dialect
By Jeff Unsworth
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.
Three Brass Balls (Translation)
Now.. there were two particular pawnshops.
That were visited regular with goods.
One was at Ince Bar, called Lygoes.
The other was old Johnny Woods.
On account of there being no money.
The pawnshop was mam's only chance.
On Monday she pawned all dad's jackets.
And Tuesday she pawned all his pants.
Now .. my dad he knew nothing about it.
Well.. that’s what my mam would think.
If he'd known all is clothes were missing.
It was certain there'd be a big stink.
She told him, she had taken them to the cleaners.
They would be ready for Friday .. no doubt.
She'd redeem them .. sponge them and press them.
And that’s how he never found out.
Now, it was different when it involved the children.
Of a provident cheque she was fain. (Glad ).
Because anything she bought was only worn once.
Then nobody saw them again.
It was unusual how the bedding went missing.
Upstairs at night we'd all trundle.
We would notice all the coats and brown paper on the bed.
Because ,with the blankets she had made up a bundle.
She used to have a debt bag under her apron.
And she walked as though she had rickets.
And when she dropped dead, we found that old bag.
She was weighed down with all pawnshop tickets.