Probably already been mentioned on this site, but it's also well-worth finding the Glos Country Life Series cd "Forest Talk" featuring the work & voices of local poets Harry Beddington, Keith Morgan & Winifred Foley. Hopefully local libraries will have it altho I cannot find it in their catalogue ?. Snippets can be heard on a wellknown internet shopping site.

http://www.wyastone.co.uk/forest-talk-an-evening-of-songs-poetry-and-humour-from-the-fo...

(ps trivia item, for the year or maybe two upto my nan's death in 1992, Winifred Foley & hubby became nan's nextdoor neighbour in Huntley, I think she was in-between homes at the time ?. A lovely lady who happily signed some books for me.)

I be a Vorest Miner, we blue scars on me vace
Born and bred a Vorrester, an proud ta be thic race
I worked the pits, al or the Dean, Cyannup and Waterloo.
Crump Medda ,Strip an at it,Narthern and Eastern too

Its bin a rough an dirty life the Coal is ard ta win
Me knees is bust me back is bent, me Lungs as black as zin
I zwung me pick both night an doy, I worked the 12 Inch zeam
An life is very divrent vrom all me childhood dreams

When i wuz yung,I roamed the ood's az vree az any breeze
round Voxes Bridge an Lightmore tump I'd wander az i pleaze
Down Edges Scowles an up agyun, an round Shakemantles loop
In rain an shine, in wind an Snow, to vind me vathers ship

Now I'm a mon i as ta work, ta veed me kids an wife
So its down the cage to earn a wage, Zurry what a life
We all the years spent underground, I be veelin like a Mole
An in me yud the thought rings out, I hates this bloody Coal

On vriday night i comes off zhift, ta get me weekly poy
An then off wum to divvy up, me vittern inta cloy
For if its bin ashart owld wick, there yun much left vor we
An i be vaced we ungry kids, an Bread an Jam ver Tea

But if its bin a good owld wick, I gooes off down the Pub
I no's me kids be warm an zafe, the pantry's vull ov grub
I has a drink we me owld buts, then its wum across the tump
Its slowly now i wendsme woy, me belly vull ov Scrump

Vor i be a Vorest Miner, we blue scars on me vace
Barn an bred a Vorrester, an proud to be thick race
I worked the pits all or the Dean, Cyannup and Waterloo
Crumpmedda Strip an at it, Narthern an Eastern too

Cyannup - Cannop Colliery
Crumpmedda - Crump Meadow Colliery
Narthern - Northern United Colliery
Eastern - Eastern United Colliery
Waterloo - Colliery near Lydbrook - Albert and Edward
Edges Scowles - probably the Scowles near Coleford
Shakemantle - Colliery nr Cindeford / Ruspidge
Voxes Bridge - Foxes Bridge Colliery Cinderford
Lightmoor - Colliery near the Dilke Hostpital Cinderford

12 inch Zeam - 12 inch Coal Seam
Scrump - Scrumpy / Cider
Vittern inta Cloy - Splitting his wages into rent and other debts, and a colliery fee
Vathers Ship - Father's Sheep ( see other references to Sheep Badger)

I am a Forest Miner, with blue scars on my face
Born and Bred a Forester, and proud to be that race
I worked the pits, all over the Dean, Cannop and Waterloo
Crump Meadow, Strip'n At It, Northern and Eastern too

Its been a rough and dirty life, the coal is hard to win
My knees are bust, my back is bent, my lungs as black as sin
I swung my pick both night and day, I worked the 12 inch seams
and life is very different to all my childhood dreams

When I was young I'd roam the Woods as free as any breeze
round Foxes Bridge, and Lightmoor tump I'd wander as I please
down Edge's Scowles and up again and round Shakemantle's loop
In rain and shine, in wind and snow, to find my fathers sheep

Now I'm a man, I have to work, to feed my children and wife
so its down the cage to earn a wage, sorry what a life
With all the years spent underground, I'm feeling like a mole
and in my head the thought rings out, I hate this bloody coal

On Friday night I come off my shift, to collect my weekly pay
and then off home to split my wages, bills to pay
for if its been a short old week, there is not much left for me
and I'll be faced with hungry children, and bread and jam for tea

But if its been a good old week, I'll go off to the pub
I know me children are warm and safe, the pantry is full of food
I have a drink with my mates, then home across the tump
Its slowly now I wind my way, my belly full of scrumpy

For I am a Forest Miner, with blue scars on my face
Born and Bred a Forester, and proud to be that race
I worked the pits, all over the Dean, Cannop and Waterloo
Crump Meadow, Strip'n At It, Northern and Eastern too

Happy reading..

Maurice

--

Collection of Forest Words.pdf
Miscellaneous Section
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/joomla/resources/documents-and-articles

There are 139 words in the collection

I know that "Ow Bist" means "How are you".

But what about "Oleland", any ideas ?

It's an interesting dialect with some lovely words!

Thic zite

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/voices2005/glossary.shtml

bisn't daddocky !

S

"In The Forest of Dean talk, it would be, how biss thee old buddy and or butty, imediatly you would know you are a forester. They were shy and weary people and careful over strangers, he found as soon as you could speak a few words such as he had given you are accepted as one of them".
Am interested to know of anymore sayings as such.