This is the song of my family! We were coal miners from Wales that moved to England. My many greats grandfather was a coal miner that lived a few miles south of Newcastle so he probably worked in Byker Hill. This was a wonderful rendition, me and my family thank you all!
There was many mines South of Newcastle in county Durham. Miners lived close to the pit they worked at, so the chances of your rel working at Byker are slim, I would say. My ancestors where miners in the SE Northumberland coalfield.
@@jimboll6982 Absolutely. I'd say Burnopfield (the pit I'm linked to), Stanley, Rowland's Gill, Beamish, or even as far as Easington are more likely than Byker. If you worked Byker or Walker (neither are specific pits, but areas of Newcastle that had several pits over the decades), you lived in Newcastle.
I saw this group last night at Bellowhead in Plymouth. They were the support act and they were fantastic. I loved their cover of this song and their own song (I think) which was The Hammer and the Anvil Song! 🎶🥁🎶⚒️
How strange to hear a song I sung years ago as a Geordie with mining heritage without the north east accent. You should have tried it in the 3 foot seam at the Beamish Museum in County Durham. Good to hear the song again, didn't realise it was known outside the north east
*LYRICS - Byker Hill - The Longest Johns (Bellowhead Ver.)* 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, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! The pitman and the keelman trim, They drink bumble made from gin! Then to dance, they all begin, To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! When first I went down to the dirt, I had no cowl, nor pitshirt! Now I've gotten two or three, Walker Pit's done well by me! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! All the boys from Walker Shore, Drink half a pint, then eighteen more! All the way they rant and roar, To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Geordie Charlton had a pig, He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig! All the way to Walker Shore, To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! 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, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore! Byker Hill and Walker Shore, Collier lads, forevermore!
Yeah, have a feeling the making of this would just be JD and Robbie whacking their heads and Andy laughing/warning them to watch their heads smugly cause he doesn't have to duck much (or at least that's what I'd do)
Never thought I'd you guys sing it. I've only ever heard The Cottars sing it before. Now it's making me want to listen to them again, haven't for awhile.
If you haven't heard Young Munro and Oidhche Mhath Leibh, listen to them. They're my favorite Cottars songs (although Fare Thee Well Northumberland is also quite good).
@@ThornForTheWynn You've named my top 3 favorites from them. Tried to learn the guitar intro for young munro once, & the violin in all of their songs make me want to get a violin.
That was great! Love the song and the setting and the everything. But yeah, it did look a bit uncomfortable for tall people. I think Sam was right. This will definitely be hummed a LOT! Now, to the "loop video" button!
The last few Longest Johns videos have been a truly nostalgic journey. Just a few days ago it was Shoals of Herring, a song i discovered through Inside Llewyn Davis. And through that movie, I also got enamoured with Dave van Ronk. Dave van Ronk has only a few songs he wrote himself, being a true folk musician he mostly researched and played old songs. But that song was a protest song during the Vietnam war, called "Luang Prabang". When I clicked on this video, i hadn't heard of Byker Hill, but I immidiately recognised the melody, since Dave used it for Luang Prabang. Absolut chills down my spine. Love how folk music keeps evolving, is truly timeless, and creates these wonderful connections.
I work with a couple of friend who's are blacksmiths. The longest jhons are great for team striking. Really sets a rhythm and I'm not messing up anymore
Beautiful song, and a beautiful rendition. Half of my family (my father's side) were coal miners out of West Virginia, so I grew up with a lot of stories and stuff, and an appreciate for the mines and the hell those inside went through
My family were miners from Kentucky. I always liked the longest John's sea shanties but now I am really getting into their work songs. Awesome to see them spreading solidarity from across the pond.
What a freaking splendid surprise!! Byker Hill has been one of my most favorite songs forever and now my favorite band has covered it and it's amazing!!! Kickass job in that mine too! It looks like it was COLD!!!
Didn’t know about this song before but it sounded awesome. Don’t know if you guys are still doing requested songs but i’d love to hear antiguan graveyard, fire marengo, agamemnon, or wolf an dro
I am aware, since that was how i discovered those songs, but I want studio versions of the songs. Also they have done studio versions of several songs that they played on stream before.
Knew this was gonna be good since I saw the title. Loved the Young Tradition version, especially Peter Bellamy from that group, and I wanted to hear you guys sing this for a while after. Playing it on loop for hours!
a cover of 'Over the Hills' form sharpe or 'Cornwall My Home' from the fishermans friends would be amazing. and a colab of you and Colm Mcguinness would awsome
Great to hear a song about my area! You guys did an amazing job of covering this, safe to say it's one of my favourites now. I'd still love to hear you cover Wreck of the Carl D. Bradley at some point in the future. Keep it up!
Never heard this before but absolutely love it. What a banger! I’m just an ignorant American, but am I right in thinking that this is a work song from English coal mining country? (“The Black Country?”)
It's from a lot further north, Byker (hill) and Walker (shore) are parts of Newcastle upon Tyne and when this song was first written down (1812) Tyneside and Durham produced more coal than any other part of England.
I always like every video before it even starts . Also started to listen to you in work makes the day a lot brighter . Was a pleasure to meet you on sea of thieves ❤️ dad average 😜
Great song as always lads! I am going to listen to this song on repeat forever. I hope you guys would do 16 Tons. But any song you lads do will sound great!
Holy- I never expected to hear this song from you but I'm *delighted* by it! (also, committing to the bit to this extent is great, I'm always a fan :D)
You've heard of Dave's stick, now get ready for: ✨JD's Shovel✨
Give me a Spade!
@@MuriKakariAnd I’ll give you a hole
@@MuriKakariand JD'll give you a hoooooooole...
LMAOOO
Don't forget about the hammer on the anvil.
0:11 JD's bass vibrates right through me and I'm not complaining
Love it, love the aesthetic, but especially love how Andy and JD are pretty seriously into it and then Robbie’s there in the back being Robbie
Robbie being Robbie will always the best part of the Johns videos
Absolutely! 😂
Watching Robbie is my favorite part of all their vids
He's doing important mining stuff!
This is the song of my family! We were coal miners from Wales that moved to England. My many greats grandfather was a coal miner that lived a few miles south of Newcastle so he probably worked in Byker Hill. This was a wonderful rendition, me and my family thank you all!
There was many mines South of Newcastle in county Durham. Miners lived close to the pit they worked at, so the chances of your rel working at Byker are slim, I would say. My ancestors where miners in the SE Northumberland coalfield.
@@jimboll6982 Absolutely. I'd say Burnopfield (the pit I'm linked to), Stanley, Rowland's Gill, Beamish, or even as far as Easington are more likely than Byker. If you worked Byker or Walker (neither are specific pits, but areas of Newcastle that had several pits over the decades), you lived in Newcastle.
There were no pits at Byker, and tbh no such place as Byker Hill.
@@tonyhunter1892 well there's no mountains in Denmark but that didn't stop us from naming a place "Heaven's Mountain"
@@Xylophytae Well when you have nothing, a little is a blessing, :)
I saw this group last night at Bellowhead in Plymouth. They were the support act and they were fantastic. I loved their cover of this song and their own song (I think) which was The Hammer and the Anvil Song! 🎶🥁🎶⚒️
How strange to hear a song I sung years ago as a Geordie with mining heritage without the north east accent. You should have tried it in the 3 foot seam at the Beamish Museum in County Durham. Good to hear the song again, didn't realise it was known outside the north east
It's mostly known because of Bellowhead doing a version of it, I suspect.
@@Cryolemon The Young Tradition is probably more relevant I'd think.
An actual coal mine? Damn, that’s dedication to the bit.
Quite a shallow one from the temp.
I agree to the dedication, but not a bit- that’s dedication to the people’s history!
*LYRICS - Byker Hill - The Longest Johns (Bellowhead Ver.)*
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, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
The pitman and the keelman trim,
They drink bumble made from gin!
Then to dance, they all begin,
To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
When first I went down to the dirt,
I had no cowl, nor pitshirt!
Now I've gotten two or three,
Walker Pit's done well by me!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
All the boys from Walker Shore,
Drink half a pint, then eighteen more!
All the way they rant and roar,
To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Geordie Charlton had a pig,
He hit it with a shovel and it danced a jig!
All the way to Walker Shore,
To the tune of the "Elsie Marley"!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
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, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Byker Hill and Walker Shore,
Collier lads, forevermore!
Thank you
A song battle between Welsh coal miners and West Virginia coal miners needs to happen.
The West Virginians would sing Sixteen Tons?
Byker Hill is up by Newcastle, but I agree nonetheless
I wonder if the coal miners would be pleased to see how their legacy is represented by current generation?
Fun Fact: The Welsh and the West Virginians mine the same coal vein, just from opposite ends.
@@dragonson04 Nah, Country Roads. :D
Love the video! Glad JD had a helmet, because it looks like he’d clock himself on the roof of the mine otherwise. 😂
Yeah, have a feeling the making of this would just be JD and Robbie whacking their heads and Andy laughing/warning them to watch their heads smugly cause he doesn't have to duck much (or at least that's what I'd do)
Especially without his glasses on!
Would love to see "Road to Mandalay" or "Loch Lomond" next!
Never thought I'd you guys sing it. I've only ever heard The Cottars sing it before. Now it's making me want to listen to them again, haven't for awhile.
If you haven't heard Young Munro and Oidhche Mhath Leibh, listen to them. They're my favorite Cottars songs (although Fare Thee Well Northumberland is also quite good).
@@ThornForTheWynn You've named my top 3 favorites from them. Tried to learn the guitar intro for young munro once, & the violin in all of their songs make me want to get a violin.
Same, the Cottars is where I first heard this song
Same here
I love Young Tradition and their version of the song is very touching and the more gritty side.
That was great! Love the song and the setting and the everything. But yeah, it did look a bit uncomfortable for tall people.
I think Sam was right. This will definitely be hummed a LOT!
Now, to the "loop video" button!
Brilliant song, this has led to lots of conversations with my 9 year old daughter about my grandad who was a miner for 30+ years in the North East
I fall in love as soon as I heard the chorus.
Yet another beautiful example of how your music can preserve our shared history
I wonder if the coal miners would be pleased to see how their legacy is represented by current generation?
@@Handle35667 they'd probably think these cosplayers are kind of pathetic tbh
If it was me, i would be just happy to be remembered @@Handle35667
@@Handle35667 Happy and amused that they and their drinking song are remembered three hundred years later, something about "a canny rendition"
This is the epitome of the working man's music.
The last few Longest Johns videos have been a truly nostalgic journey. Just a few days ago it was Shoals of Herring, a song i discovered through Inside Llewyn Davis. And through that movie, I also got enamoured with Dave van Ronk. Dave van Ronk has only a few songs he wrote himself, being a true folk musician he mostly researched and played old songs. But that song was a protest song during the Vietnam war, called "Luang Prabang". When I clicked on this video, i hadn't heard of Byker Hill, but I immidiately recognised the melody, since Dave used it for Luang Prabang. Absolut chills down my spine. Love how folk music keeps evolving, is truly timeless, and creates these wonderful connections.
That's awesome!
Also, since I know Diggy Diggy Hole is coming out, this seems pretty appropriate
I like how this old song references even older songs no one even remembers. I've seen a couple of these do that LOL
I work with a couple of friend who's are blacksmiths. The longest jhons are great for team striking. Really sets a rhythm and I'm not messing up anymore
Who updated the Byker Hill Wikipedia page right after this was posted. Don't think ive ever seen it happen that fast
how do these guys manage to convincingly look like every single type of workman?
They're from Bristol, it's a workman's town. At least, it used to be
It’s the beards
@@filmandfirearms and sailors are from bristol
They’re way too clean imo
@@Joshua-ox5fr true
Beautiful song, and a beautiful rendition. Half of my family (my father's side) were coal miners out of West Virginia, so I grew up with a lot of stories and stuff, and an appreciate for the mines and the hell those inside went through
My family were miners from Kentucky. I always liked the longest John's sea shanties but now I am really getting into their work songs. Awesome to see them spreading solidarity from across the pond.
The lengths some people will go to for authenticity! True dedication.
Never heard this before, but it's amazing. Will definitely be requesting it on the next livestream.
When do we get this in an album???? I need this on my Spotify playlist!!!!😊
Close to The Cottars version as far as how good it is. Close but not quite there. Good on you guys keep it up and keep the shanty life afloat.
What a freaking splendid surprise!! Byker Hill has been one of my most favorite songs forever and now my favorite band has covered it and it's amazing!!! Kickass job in that mine too! It looks like it was COLD!!!
What an absolute banger :) and perfectly sung, as always.
Is that stage fog or frost on your breath? Either way it was unexpectedly cool to see the visualisation of your impressive breath control!
the harmonies in this one are jaw-dropping, i never wanted it to end!!!
Guys. I've heard this in the last hour, and now I've lost count of how many times I've replayed it. 😮❤️
I remember hearing this song so long ago sung by the Cottars
I love your rendition of it, very different from there’s but still beautiful
I love the Cottars' version, too! I first learned about the band because one of its members was featured on PBS' Zoom when I was a kid.
I think I found my new favorite music
I've fairly recently gone to Exeter Uni, studying Geology at the Camborne School of Mines. This is good timing!
This shows real dedication, I mean you are singing in an actual coal mine🤔 where next I wonder😁 Great job lads. X
Yes, another miner song!
Deep Rock Galactic gaming stream when?
My grandpa used to sing this, not heard it in many years, thank you
This one’s going to be stuck in my head for sure, great work!
Every time you release a new song/cover it is a good day.
As a fellow with a bass/baritone range, this satisfies me DEEPLY.
Pun intended.
Aye, that was a really good use of a pun
1:28 the pig sound was so funny to me, how did he even do that? 😂😂
The way all the different pitches of their voices mesh is so satisfying!
This immediately became one of my favorites. You rock, Johns!
Misread this as Byker Grove, then had thought… can you shant the theme tune to Rent-a-Ghost?
Byker Grove is named for the Byker Hill colliery.
That was excell.... errrr.... I mean adequate lads!!!
Wey aye lads, was hoping you'd cover this! Get in.
Didn’t know about this song before but it sounded awesome. Don’t know if you guys are still doing requested songs but i’d love to hear antiguan graveyard, fire marengo, agamemnon, or wolf an dro
They sing Antiguan Graveyard and Fire Marengo on the livestreams
I am aware, since that was how i discovered those songs, but I want studio versions of the songs. Also they have done studio versions of several songs that they played on stream before.
@@mistfate4199 Okay, didn't know if you knew or were new.
I'm enjoying full goblin mode Robbie.
So so so so good
This is officially my favourite version of this song!
amazing location for your videos again!
One of my favourite songs and a wonderful cover!
Great as usual, guys! I love Andy's serious face, JD's low harmony and Robbie seems really into mining!
Damn, those harmonies are great, but that sudden unisono at the end is mighty powerful too. Love it!
Fantastic to hear you lot cover a Geordie song. I know Carthy was another famous non-Geordie proponent of it, Well done lads.
Knew this was gonna be good since I saw the title. Loved the Young Tradition version, especially Peter Bellamy from that group, and I wanted to hear you guys sing this for a while after. Playing it on loop for hours!
The Barely Works and Bellowhead both do great versions too, if you're still looking to scratch that itch.
@@JOCoStudio1 Thank you! Listened to both, and it's 2 more for my "any song I like, at all" playlist!
a cover of 'Over the Hills' form sharpe or 'Cornwall My Home' from the fishermans friends would be amazing. and a colab of you and Colm Mcguinness would awsome
Okay but i want the behind the scenes. i wanna know what you lot going at it sounded like in that mine!
Yours voices singing together are awesome
Still hoping for a remake of "sloop john b" or "rueben james" by the kingston trio, would be cool to see a remake from yall!
Doesn't half look cold down there. Excellent work, fellas!
Amazing cover, hats off!
Yes, that's gonna life in my head for a while for sure ❤
Had the song looped just now. I genuinely couldn't tell when one loop ended and the next started! Brilliant! Have to ask, was that on purpose? :)
Misty mountains! Y’all are amazing!
When brent is done building the recording studio at cerro gordo you guys should definitely go!
Great to hear a song about my area! You guys did an amazing job of covering this, safe to say it's one of my favourites now. I'd still love to hear you cover Wreck of the Carl D. Bradley at some point in the future. Keep it up!
Never heard this before but absolutely love it. What a banger! I’m just an ignorant American, but am I right in thinking that this is a work song from English coal mining country? (“The Black Country?”)
I think you might be right, but I couldn't find out who the original writer was. Often AFAIK that means it's a work song.
It's from a lot further north, Byker (hill) and Walker (shore) are parts of Newcastle upon Tyne and when this song was first written down (1812) Tyneside and Durham produced more coal than any other part of England.
@@Lup495 Thanks for the clarification.
I remember Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick doing this. Good job guys
Oh man, been hoping for this one for a while. Wonder how it'll sound compared to the Young Tradition version from so long ago.
Thank you guys, I love y'all, thank you.
Very nice, hope to hear it in the next stream
I always like every video before it even starts . Also started to listen to you in work makes the day a lot brighter .
Was a pleasure to meet you on sea of thieves ❤️ dad average 😜
Great song. One my kids have loved for a while. Any chances to get "Song for the Mira"?
Well done lads! Can we get your version of The Leaving of Liverpool? I bet you all could knock it out of the park!
They do a bluegrass version of it in one of their live streams...I think it was in Ghost in the Mastream
Wonderful (adequate!) I'm a fan of the song in general, and this version is lovely, and the video is pretty cool (in a cavey sort of way), too!
Great song as always lads! I am going to listen to this song on repeat forever. I hope you guys would do 16 Tons. But any song you lads do will sound great!
I've been wanting this one for a while, and it's even better than I expected! Adequate work, lads
I do really hope these covers you have been making recently end up on an album at some point, I need to give you more money
Holy coal, you weren't lying about this being in my head now.
I've never heard this song before, love it. Definitely a (head) banger!
The shovel carries the whole thing for me
I find it ironic that despite the many references to Elsie Marley, this tune is so much catchier than that one.
I did not know that I needed this song! New Favorite!
Absolutely breathtaking! Would love to see you gents do Misty Mountains.
Great song! What about "White Squall," "Lock Keeper" or "The Field Behind the Plow" all by Stan Rogers? You could do "S Lazy H" by Corb Lund.
Yeah any of these are excellent choices.
Great song boys love a miner’s jig
I need this on spotify so badly, you guys are carrying my playlist right now
Wake up babe
New dwarf-core aong just dropped
One of my favorite work songs! Very adequate:)
this was great, but I still dare you to do "a pirate looks at 40" by Buffett. That man was a modern pirate, and that song shows' it :)
love this a good working song again lads
I love this song! so glad to hear it covered by my favorite band
YES, I LOVE THIS SONG!
Those some good blokes with good songs
Awesome rendition, one of my favorite songs!
Holy- I never expected to hear this song from you but I'm *delighted* by it! (also, committing to the bit to this extent is great, I'm always a fan :D)
Classic bit of local history wonderfully performed