The Tyne Songster is a chapbook style songbook, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, with a few bits of other information.
[1] The Tyne Songster (full title – "The Tyne Songster – A Choice Selection of Songs in the Newcastle Dialect – "No pompous strains, nor labour'd lines are here, But genuine mirth and sportive wit appear; Northumbria's genius, in her simple rhymes; Shall live an emblem to succeeding times – Newcastle: – Printed and sold by W & T Fordyce – 1840) is a chapbook style book of Geordie folk songs consisting of approximately 225 song lyrics on over 300 pages, published in 1840.
The notes to the song mention that Russell walked 101 miles in 23 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds on 25 and 26 June 1822 on Newcastle Racecourse.
The song is a tribute to Mr Russell who walked 101 miles in 23 hours, 56 minutes and 30 seconds on 25 and 26 June 1822 on Newcastle Racecourse.
Geordie dialect words W & T Fordyce (publishers) Fr-Tune1 – according to J. P. Robson's Songs of the Bards of the Tyne (Newcastle: France,[1849]) the tune is "Bow Wow".