cs I came thro' Sandgate,
Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
cs I came thro' Sandgate,
I heard a lassie sing:

cs I came thro' Sandgate,
Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate,
cs I came thro' Sandgate,
I heard a lassie sing:

O, weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
O weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.'

O, weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
O weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.'

'O wha's like my Johnnie,
Sae leish, sae blithe, sae bonnie?
He's foremost 'mang the mony
Keel lads o' coaly Tyne;

'O wha's like my Johnnie,
Sae leish, sae blithe, sae bonnie?
He's foremost 'mang the mony
Keel lads o' coaly Tyne;

He'll set or row sae tightly
Or, in the dance sae sprightly,
He'll cut and shuffle slightly,
'Tis true, were he nae mine.'

He'll set or row sae tightly
Or, in the dance sae sprightly,
He'll cut and shuffle slightly,
'Tis true, were he nae mine.

'He wears a blue bonnet,
Blue bonnet, blue bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet
c dimple in his chin.

'He wears a blue bonnet,
Blue bonnet, blue bonnet,
He wears a blue bonnet
c dimple in his chin.

cnd weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
cnd weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.'

cnd weel may the keel row,
The keel row, the keel row,
cnd weel may the keel row
That my laddie's in.'

Overall Meaning

The Keel Row is a traditional Geordie folk song from the north-east of England. “Keel” is derived from the name given to the type of boat used to transport coal from the Tyne to other parts of the country. The song tells a story of a woman who passes by Sandgate, where she hears a young girl singing about her lover who works on the boat. The song’s main refrain talks about the keel rowing well, providing for her lover and carrying him safely on his journeys. The woman also talks about her lover, Johnnie, who she describes as being happy-go-lucky and always in high spirits, among other things. She describes his blue bonnet and the dimple on his chin. The woman is happy that the keel is always taking her lover away and then bringing him back safely.

The Keel Row is considered one of the most famous traditional Geordie folk songs. The song has strong associations with the north-east of England, but it's popularity spread and has become a favourite among choirs and folk groups worldwide. The song’s popularity can be traced back to the 19th century, and it’s said that it was sung on the streets of Newcastle as far back as the 1760s. The Keel Row was a popular tune at fairs, racecourses, and other public venues. It has also been used as the tune for various hymns in Christian worship.

The Keel Row’s meaning may have changed over the centuries, but it still remains a classic tune of the north-east of England. Today, it is still sung in pubs, at football matches and various other gatherings. It continues to be a source of pride and expression for the people who call the north-east of England their home.

Line by Line Meaning

As I came thro' Sandgate, Thro' Sandgate, thro' Sandgate, As I came thro' Sandgate, I heard a lassie sing:
The singer heard a woman singing as she walked through Sandgate.

O, weel may the keel row, The keel row, the keel row, O weel may the keel row That my laddie's in.'
The singer wishes that her lover's keel (ship) will navigate smoothly.

'O wha's like my Johnnie, Sae leish, sae blithe, sae bonnie? He's foremost 'mang the mony Keel lads o' coaly Tyne;
The singer admires her boyfriend Johnnie who is one of the leading coal ship sailors in the region.

He'll set or row sae tightly Or, in the dance sae sprightly, He'll cut and shuffle slightly, 'Tis true, were he nae mine.'
The artist compliments Johnnie's physical agility and dancing skills.

'He wears a blue bonnet, Blue bonnet, blue bonnet, He wears a blue bonnet A dimple in his chin.
The artist describes one of Johnnie's physical features, his dimpled chin and the blue hat he wears.

And weel may the keel row, The keel row, the keel row, And weel may the keel row That my laddie's in.'
The singer prays for her boyfriend's successful voyage on the coal ship.

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Comments from YouTube:

@patrickdoran1459

6y↑5

Traditional song from NE England about Newcastle coalers called "keels", hard dirty dangerous work; it's sung by a faithful female relative of one of the crew. Bravo Kathleen Ferrier.