They released three albums to considerable acclaim: Made In Cape Breton (2002), On Fire (2004), and Forerunner (2006). In 2006, they toured extensively with the well-known Irish band The Chieftains. However, the founding members of the band split up in 2006, either because of artistic differences, or health problems, according to different reports.
The band began to appear without the Mackenzie siblings, and after experimenting with various fill-ins, settled upon fiddler Claire Pettit and fellow Cape Bretoner Bruce Timmons on guitar. They are currently working on a new studio album for release in Summer 2008.
Official website: http://www.thecottars.ca
Byker Hill
The Cottars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would have another gill
I would make the piper play
The bonny lass of Byker Hill
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
The pitman and the keelman trim
They drink bumble made from gin
Then to dance they do begin
To the tune of Elsie Marley
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
When first I went down to the dirt
I had no cowl nor no pitshirt
Now I've gotten two or three
Walker Pit's done well by me
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Geordie Charlton, he had a pig
You hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
All the way to Walker Shore
To the tune of Elsie Marley
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
If I had another penny
I would have another gill
I would make the piper play
The bonny lass of Byker Hill
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Collier lads for ever more
The Cottars' song "Byker Hill" is a traditional English folk song. The lyrics tell the story of working-class miners and keelmen and their joyous celebration after a long day working in the colliery. The first verse describes the desire of the miners to continue their celebration with "another penny" and "another gill" of alcohol, so they can request the piper to play "The bonny lass of Byker Hill." Byker Hill and Walker Shore are two areas in Newcastle, England, where the collieries were located. The chorus repeats "Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads for ever more" to celebrate the camaraderie of the working-class.
In the second verse, the lyrics focus on the pitman and the keelman, who drink "bumble" made from gin and begin dancing to the tune of "Elsie Marley." The third verse tells the story of how the singer had started working in the mines without a cowl nor pitshirt but gained two or three shirts from working in the Walker Pit. Finally, the song celebrates the tale of Geordie Charlton's pig, which could be made to dance to the tune of "Elsie Marley" by hitting it with a shovel.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had another penny
If only I had more money
I would have another gill
I'd have another drink
I would make the piper play
I'd request the bagpiper to play a tune
The bonny lass of Byker Hill
A beautiful girl from Byker Hill, a coal mining area in England
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Areas where colliers (coal miners) worked
Collier lads for ever more
The miners who worked in these areas are celebrated forever
The pitman and the keelman trim
The miners and the boatmen, both in good spirits
They drink bumble made from gin
They're having a type of gin cocktail called bumble
Then to dance they do begin
They start dancing
To the tune of Elsie Marley
To the famous folk tune called Elsie Marley
When first I went down to the dirt
When I first started working in the coal mine
I had no cowl nor no pitshirt
I didn't have the necessary protective gear
Now I've gotten two or three
Now I have 2 or 3 pieces of protective clothing
Walker Pit's done well by me
The coal mine I work in has treated me well
Geordie Charlton, he had a pig
A man named Geordie Charlton had a pig
You hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig
The pig was hit with a shovel and it started dancing
All the way to Walker Shore
Even until they arrived at the colliery
If I had another penny
If only I had more money
I would have another gill
I'd have another drink
I would make the piper play
I'd request the bagpiper to play a tune
The bonny lass of Byker Hill
A beautiful girl from Byker Hill, a coal mining area in England
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Areas where colliers (coal miners) worked
Collier lads for ever more
The miners who worked in these areas are celebrated forever
Byker Hill and Walker Shore
Areas where colliers (coal miners) worked
Collier lads for ever more
The miners who worked in these areas are celebrated forever
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PJ556666
on Home By Bearna
they are going home by another route to avoid something bad happening