The Newcastle Songster by John Marshall

The Newcastle Songster, by John Marshall (full title – "The Newcastle Songster; being a choice collection of Songs, Descriptive of the Language and Manners of the Common People of Newcastle upon Tyne And the neighbourhood" (the latter parts suffixed with "part II", " part III" etc.) is a volume of 6 Chapbook style books of Geordie folk songs, each consisting of 24 pages and a grand total of 72 song lyrics, published ca 1812, 1812, 1814, 1821, 1824 and 1826 respectively.[2] The books were published and printed by John Marshall, one of the most prominent chapbook printers in Newcastle during the early nineteenth century. The books are undated and it is difficult to give an accurate date, but the fact that John Marshall did not move into the Flesh Market premises until 1811, dates them not before that date. Several of the later books can be dated approximately from the events, or dates within the titles. The first volumes appeared around the same time as John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards, published in 1812,. The six volume set of books contain some of the region's traditional songs and generally seem to stick to the same formulae as many other Chapbooks in using the same, or similar, well known songs. There are however a few "different" unusual and rare songs which do not appear in many other similar publications. It is assumed that these books, due to the content, would have been very popular with local population.

It is, as the title suggests, a collection of songs which would have been popular, or topical, at the date of publication (or some time before). There is nothing at all in the way of biographies of any of the writers and virtually no details or histories of the events.

The front cover of the book was as thus :-

THE
NEWCASTLE
SONGSTER
Being a Choice Collection of
SONGS,
Descriptive of the Language and Manners of the
Common People of
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
And the Neighbourhood
– - – - – - – - – -
No pompous strains, nor labour'd lines are here,
But genuine wit and sportive mirth appear:
Northumbria's genius in her simple rhymes,
Shall live an emblem to succeeding times.
– - – - – - – - – -
Newcastle upon Tyne:
Printed by J. Marshall, in the Old Flesh-Market.
Where here also may be had, a large and curious Assortment
of Songs, Ballads, Tales, Histories, &c.

• Geordie dialect words

• Farne archives – click on “Newcastle songster – Parts 1–6” and “Go”