I went to Blaydon races 'twas on the ninth of June
Eighteen hundred and sixty two on a summer's afternoon
I took the bus from Balmbra's and she was heavy laden
Away we went along Collingwood Street that's on the road to Blaydon
Oh me lads you should have seen us ganning
Passing the folks upon the road
Just as they were standing
There were lots of lads and lasses there
And all with smiling faces
Ganning along the Scotswood road
To see the Blaydon races
We flew past Armstrong's factory and up to the Robin Adair
Just ganning down to the railway bridge the bus wheel flew off there
The lasses last their crinolines off and the veils that hide their faces
And I got two black eyes and a broken nose in ganning to Blaydon races
Oh me lads you should have seen us ganning...
When we got the wheel put on, away we went again
But them that had their noses broke they came over home
Some went to the dispensary and some to Doctor Gibbs
And some to the Infirmary to mend their broken ribs
Oh me lads you should have seen us ganning...
Now when we got to Paradise there was bonny game begun
There was four and twenty on the bus, man, how they danced and sang
They called on me to sing a song; I sang them Paddy Fagan
I danced a jig and I swung me twig the day I went to Blaydon
Oh me lads you should have seen us ganning
Passing the folks upon the road
Just as they were standing
There were lots of lads and lasses there
And all with smiling faces
Ganning along the Scotswood road
To see the Blaydon races