I remember years ago, sunshine rain or snow
On Sunday mornings all my friends and me
On Sund’land Road we’d meet, then walk down High West Street
To the Sunday Morning Market on the Quay
The salesmen gathered there, I mind would often swear
That all their goods had a lifetime guarantee
But you would be a fool, to take that as a rule
At the Sunday morning market on the Quay
Sunday mornings down on the Quay
What a great experience for all the family
We’d be entertained by a man tied up in chains
In just a matter of minutes he would be free
He also had the knack of escaping from a sack
At the Sunday morning market on the Quay
A magician would take bets, that lighted cigarettes
Would disappear from his hands easily
The crowds would be surprised, before their very eyes
At the Sunday morning market on the Quay
Sunday mornings down on the Quay
What a great experience for all the family
Another man’s desire was eating balls of fire
Then breathing flames that ev’ryone could see
He would stop and pause, and wait for the applause
At the Sunday morning market on the Quay
The Sally Army Band would always get a hand
For singing all their songs in harmony
Around would come the tin, I’d put some pennies in
At the Sunday morning market on the Quay
This song of course refers to Newcastle’s Sunday morning market at the Quayside which has long been a staple of weekend life for Geordies. Wilf recalled that his Uncle Jimmy used to regularly take him down there – fond memories for him.
Apparently the markets have been going since 17361. I was delighted to find that the North East Film Archive have some digitised footage of the markets from the 1960s when Wilf would have been in his late teens. It’s well worth a watch – it includes a magician and even a salesman swearing! I can’t help but wonder if Wilf saw this film and had this in mind alongside his own memories when he wrote the song.
https://www.yfanefa.com/record/16669
