Peterloo Songtext
von The Oldham Tinkers

On Peter′s Fields in Manchester in t' year one eight one nine
When t′ cotton folk of Lancashire in protest did combine
Corn laws had browt the crippling tax
And the price of food near broke folks' backs
And set aleet to t' smouldering flax
And it bristled mony a spine

Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for t′ common good
On t′ fields of Peterloo

Sixteenth day of August browt the sound of marching feet
When workers fifty thousand strong on Peter's Fields did meet
From Mount Street in an upstairs room
The Magistrates looked down with gloom
And scoffed this rabble of the loom
Vengeance they thowt is sweet


Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for t′ common good
On t' fields of Peterloo

Then t′ riot act were gabbled out at Parson Hay's command
For this here Rochdale Vicar made wi′ t' richest living in t' land
But t′ folk at t′ meeting never knew
O' t′ riot act till t' bugles blew
And mounted redcoats come in view
With sabres in their hands

Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for t′ common good
On t' fields of Peterloo

These soldiers mowed folk down like flies
Their sabres dripped wi′ blood
They gormed no mon nor woman's cries
But pierced 'em wheer they stood
Mony deed that day were named
And hundreds more were hurt and lamed
While t′ Tyrants watching unashamed
Said it′d do 'em good!


Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for t′ common good
On t' fields of Peterloo

For mony a year folk struggled on till 1832
Reform Act come, Corn Laws were done
And food were chepper too
John Bright and Cobden paved the way
And now where Peter′s Fields once lay
The Free Trade Hall it stands today
On t' fields of Peterloo

Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for t′ common good
On t' fields of Peterloo