Joe Wilson (29 November 1841 – 14 February 1875) was a

Tyneside Tyneside is a built-up area across the banks of the River Tyne in northern England. Residents of the area are commonly referred to as Geordies. The whole area is surrounded by the North East Green Belt. The population of Tyneside as published i ...

concert hall songwriter and performer in the mid-19th century. His most famous song is " Keep yor feet still Geordie hinny". He was a contemporary of

George "Geordie" Ridley George "Geordie" Ridley (1835 – 1864) was a Tyneside concert hall songwriter and performer in the middle of the 19th century. His most famous song is "Blaydon Races". He was a contemporary of Edward Corvan. He has been described by a coun ...

. He wrote and sang in the

Geordie Geordie () is a nickname for a person from the Tyneside area of North East England, and the dialect used by its inhabitants, also known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English. There are different definitions of what constitut ...

dialect of Newcastle upon Tyne, his native speech.

Biography

Joseph "Joe" Wilson was born just before his twin brother, Tom, in Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. His father was a cabinet-maker, his mother a bonnet-maker. He enjoyed singing from an early age and had a fine treble voice, which led to his becoming a choir boy at

All Saints' Church All Saints Church, or All Saints' Church or variations on the name may refer to: Albania *All Saints' Church, Himarë Australia * All Saints Church, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory * All Saints Anglican Church, Henley Brook, Western Aust ...

. At age 14, he went to work as an apprentice printer with Howe Brothers of Gateshead. He started writing songs as a hobby, and by age 17 published his first book, managing to publish and distribute it independently. He later arranged for the printing to be done at Howe Brothers. Wilson started performing professionally in 1864 and became a regular at the Wheat Sheaf in the Cloth Market. He later moved to the newer, larger Tyne Concert Hall. He then toured the North of England, selling his home-produced song-books like most artists of the day (for a halfpenny each). He married in 1869, and two years later tried settling down to a less itinerant lifestyle. In 1871 he became publican of the Adelaide Inn on New Bridge Street, Newcastle. He was a publican for about a year, then he went back on the road, singing and writing. His act now included many "teetotal" songs, as he had taken the pledge. His health failed when he contracted

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

, as his father had. A friend and colleague Rowly Harrison, publican of The Commercial in Winlaton, allowed Wilson to stay with him, as his pub was at a higher elevation, and therefore thought to have cleaner, more bracing air. Joe Wilson died of tuberculosis in Railway Street, Newcastle, survived by his wife and three young children. He was buried in the

Jesmond Old Cemetery Jesmond Old Cemetery is a Victorian cemetery in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, founded in 1834. It contains two Grade II listed buildings and seven Grade II listed monuments as well as the graves of dozens of notable people from the history ...

where a monument marking his grave was erected sometime afterward. The inscription on the monument is in his own words: "It's been me aim t'hev a place i'th' hearts o' the Tyneside people, wi' writin' bits o'hyemly sangs aw think they'll sing."

Legacy

Joe Wilson was probably the most prolific of all the Geordie songwriters of the time. He performed his own works in the various halls of entertainment around the region until he became too ill. Many of his songs were published in his book ''Songs and Drolleries'', and also in Allan's ''Tyneside Songs and Readings''. "Sally Wheatley" was revived during the late 20th century, by e.g.

Alex Glasgow Alex Glasgow (14 October 1935 – 14 May 2001) was an English singer-songwriter from Low Fell, Gateshead, England. He wrote the songs and music for the musical plays ''Close the Coal House Door'' and '' On Your Way, Riley!'' by Alan Plater, and ...

and

The Dubliners The Dubliners were an Folk music of Ireland, Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named after its founding member; they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in personn ...

. An album of Joe Wilson's songs, "The Day of Life", with newly composed music, was released by the Geordie singer songwriter Pete Scott as part of the Northumbrian Anthology project in 2001.

Works

Wilson's songs were published during his lifetime, as well as after his death. This is a partial list. *" Keep yor feet still Geordie hinny" to the tune of "

Nelly Gray "Darling Nelly Gray" is a 19th century anti-slavery ballad written and composed by Benjamin Hanby in 1856. It is written as from the point of view of an African-American male slave in Kentucky whose sweetheart has been taken away by slave-owners. ...

"/"

Maggie May "Maggie May" is a song co-written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, and performed by Rod Stewart on his album ''Every Picture Tells a Story'', released in 1971. In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked the song number 130 on its list of T ...

" *" Come Geordie ha'd the bairn" *"Aa hope ye'll be kind ti me dowter" *"The Row upon the Stairs" *"Dinnet clash the door" *"The time that me fethur was bad" *"The Gallowgate Lad" *"The Lass That Lives Next Door" *"Narvis Johnny" *"Sally Wheatley" *"Through Drinking Bitter Beer" *"The Bonny Gateshead Lass"

Notes

References

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