The song was first published in 1862 by Thomas Allan in his book of a collection of Tyneside songs. The music was by
Harry Clifton (1832–1872) originally composed and performed by him as "
Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green", though possibly not published in the original version until a year or two after the words to "Cushey Butterfield" had appeared in print. The version below is taken from the 1873 edition of the book, now titled "A Choice collection of Tyneside songs, by Wilson, Corvan, Mitford, Gilchrist, Robson, Harrison ... with the lives of the authors, illustrated with views of the town and portraits of the poets and eccentrics of Newcastle". It appears on pages 220 & 221. This version is as follows: CUSHEY BUTTERFIELD' Air – “
Pretty Polly Perkins of Paddington Green” THE LAST SONG WRITTEN BY GEORGE RIDLEY. For a translation, see
Geordie dialect words Places mentioned Gyetshead is
Gateshead, the town on the opposite (south) side of the
River Tyne from
Newcastle upon Tyne Sandgate pronounced Sandgit, is (or was) an area of the town named from the Sand Gate, one of the six main gates in the
Newcastle town wall, a
medieval defensive wall, the remaining parts of which are a
Scheduled Ancient Monument. The quayside section of the wall was pulled down in 1763 and the
Sand Gate in 1798. In 1701 the Keelmen's Hospital was built in the
Sandgate area of the city, using funds provided by the keelmen. This building still stands today.
Shipcote was a colliery in Gateshead.
Trades mentioned Keelman were the dockers of yesteryear, who worked on the
keels (or keelboats) of the
River Tyne. Many, in fact the majority, resided as a close-knit community with their families in the
Sandgate area, to the east of the city and beside the river. Their work included working on the keels/keelboats which were used to transfer coal from the river banks to the waiting
colliers, for transport to various destinations including London. A
hewer is a Geordie and mining term for the miner who digs the coal. A
muckman is a sewage worker. == Comments on variations to the above version ==