I walked up through Elvet Bridge

And on to Souter Peth

But a chill was in the air

And an ice upon each breath

I went up to the cobblers

Smiling ear to ear

But the cobblers all turned round and said

We need no cobblers here

It’s John Duck this

And John Duck that

And stranger go away

And don’t come back tomorrow

Or any other day

We’d take you on at once

If there was any other way

But all our doors are closed to you

So John Duck go away!

Further on to Silver Street

Wet diamonds in my hair

But as the rain came lashing down

I brushed away each care

I went up to the jewellers

Hoping to endear

But the jewellers all turned round and said

We need no jewellers here

It’s John Duck this

And John Duck that

And stranger go away

And don’t come back tomorrow

Or any other day

We’d take you on at once

If there was any other way

But all our doors are closed to you

So John Duck go away!

Down then on to Smith-Gate

Into the smoky air

The sky had turned to metal

There was thunder everywhere

I went up to the blacksmiths

With their hammers ringing clear

But the blacksmiths all turned round and said

We need no blacksmiths here

It’s John Duck this

And John Duck that

And stranger go away

And don’t come back tomorrow

Or any other day

We’d take you on at once

If there was any other way

But all our doors are closed to you

So John Duck go away!

I trotted up to Saddler Street

Like a wounded horse

Hoping that my ill luck

Might at last have run its course

I went up to the saddlers

But as soon as I drew near

The saddlers all turned round and said

We need no saddlers here

It’s John Duck this

And John Duck that

And stranger go away

And don’t come back tomorrow

Or any other day

We’d take you on at once

If there was any other way

But all our doors are closed to you

So John Duck go away!

I walked back to the Shambles

Along through Flesh-ewer Raw

Thinking if they turn their back on me

Then I can take no more

I went up to the butchers

And though their response proved drear

There was one kind soul amongst them

Who said come along in here

After all this

And after all that

Now John Duck’s on his way

After sheer perseverance

He’s going to have his day

He’s going to rise up in his trade

And blow them all away

A door has finally opened

And John Duck’s here to stay

(Gary Miller)

© 2019 Whippet Records

Copyright Control MCPS/PRS

Written as a spoken-word piece to an accompanying tune. Both the lyrics and tune were inspired by 'John's Jacoubus (A Tale of Durham's Dick Wittington)', an illustration by Helen Temperley, as part of the upcoming project 'The Butcher Baronet', in collaboration with Lone Pine Pictures, about the 17th Century Durham City historical figure John Duck.

Other songs and tunes from this project include : -

'The Beer Token'

'Behind the Wall'

'The Butcher Baronet'

'Ca' Hawkie'

'Cast Out'

'City of Dreams'

'Cloak and Hood'

'Duck's Overture'

'Dunholm'

'Elementary (Turn Turn Again)'

'Flesh and Bone'

'Fortune Weaver'

'Golden Journey: Through Air / Over Water / To Earth / On Fire'

'Here's to You, John Duck!'

'Hold on'

'John's Jacobus (Inscription)'

'Merrily Danced The Butcher's Wife'

'My Butcher Boy'

'Now I Dream'

'Old Duck's Main'

'Old Duck's Rant'

'Rolling on (A Hymn for John and Ann)'

'Shiny Thing'

'Top of the Hill'

'We Don't Talk About Him 'Round Here'