The Sandgate Dandling Song-Bridie Jackson and the Arbour
Hold thy way, my bonny bairn,
Hold thy way up on my arm,
Hold thy way, thou soon may learn
to say Dada, so canny
I wish thy daddy may be well,
He’s long in coming from the keel,
Though his black face be like the devil,
I’d like a kiss from Johnny
Thou really has thy daddy’s chin,
Thou art like him, leg and wing,
And I, with pleasure, can thee sing,
Since thou belongs my Johnny
When daddy’s drunk, he’ll take his knife
And threaten sore to take my life,
Who wouldn’t be a keelman’s wife,
To have a man like Johnny
Hold thy way, my bonny bairn,
Hold thy way up on my arm,
Hold thy way, thou soon may learn
to say Dada, so canny