The Keel Row - Tyneside Folk Song

"The Keel Row" is a traditional Tyneside folk song evoking the life and work of the keelmen of Newcastle upon Tyne. A closely related song was first published in a Scottish collection of the 1770s, but may be considerably older, and it is unclear whether the tune is Scottish or English in origin.

The opening lines of the song set it in Sandgate, that part of the quayside overlooking the River Tyne to the east of the city centre where the keelmen lived and which is still overlooked by the Keelmen's Hospital.

The painting is 'Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Night' by J. M. W. Turner, 1835

[Weir]

Still often hear this played by bands in Northern Ireland. One of my favourites!

[pygmy.]

I heard this a lot growing up being from Northumberland

[Brahmacharyan]

I'd put money on this song coming from English and Scottish sailors hearing Spanish sailors singing their national anthem and putting their own words to it. It's uncanny how similar the melody is to the Marcha Real.

[JamesL]

Loved hearing this at the Trooping of the Colours today as someone from the North East

[foundationofBritain]

This definitely is one of the English versions then, ... as the Scottish versions apparently refer to the Canongate rather than Sandgate.

[brentmarshall]

I understand this is about the small Keel boats that took Coal out to the ships ( which were too big to berth in the Tyne). ??

[valleyscharping]

By the sounds of it, there looks to be some Scots in the lyrics, is that right? I can't quite figure out what is being said with the main phrase "O weel may the keel row that my laddie's in!" Is weel a whirlpool as the dictionary might say, or is it a Scots/northern pronunciation of "well"? Like "Well may the keel row that my laddie's in!" In which case, why is the vocative O used before an adverb (instead of a noun) when it should be "Oh" with a comma for an adverb? Just having fun with the language if anyone can help!

[Cicero]

I know this is unrelated, but It's funny how back in the day Geordies for example, wouldn't identify themselves with being English, they were "Anglic" or British sure, and they might have been just as Loyal as any True Blue in the south, I am only thinking of this, when a man from the (BBC?) Was handing out new crisps to people from the Tyneside area, and when she got the flavour wrong she said "you english don't kid me" I'm not sure if she was being satirical or people often identified with their local regional culture rather than the metropolitan london culture that was coming in, anyways sorry for the rant, I love this march.

[DaveAinsworth-yh]

The Rifles used at double time on palate

[nickstory]

is that english. or speaking old English?

[heyaltuswheels_official]

Okay the karaoke instrumental version is heard in SpongeBob SquarePants but you know what it was the different instruments