THE WEDDING AT NUMER 18, CLEGG STREET
by Mike Harding

'Twas a fine foggy day in Septober
The rain it were bucketing down
So I picked up some buckets - and I flogged 'em outright
To the council for half a crown.

Through the drizzle a form come walking
Clad in an old flannel vest
He wore nowt on his feet but bunnions
And a cauliflower pinned to his chest.

"What a man has to do for a living."
He said as he passed slowly by
And I recognized him, it was Acroyd
I could tell by his roving black eye.

'Cos it had roved from his head to his kneecaps
And was stuck there swivelling round;
When lasses walked past it looked up, aghast
And at other times looked at the ground.

"Ay up lad," I said, "Eh, how are ya?"
He smiled, his teeth blackened and broke
He said, "I'm marrying a lass in the morning."
I said, "Its better than marrying a bloke."

So we went to the registry office next day
On back of bus - 59
The bride was too wide to get up and ride
So she run like bugg'ry behind.

At Oldham the hill was against us
It was far too steep for the bus
So I held the brides aspidistras
And made it easier for her to push.

To Cheers and Hurrahs she shoved us
Right to the top of the hill
But her eyelashes ran down her face with sweat
So she'd a tash and mutton chops too.

After the wedding was over
We went to the Clogger's Arms
Where they'd tripe and cow heel and parkin
Black peas and black puddin' on barms.

The bride cut the cake with her false teeth
'Cos someone'd buggered off with the knife
But she didn't take care and they slipped, and flew through the air
Causing buggerations, trouble and strife.

'Cos they landed on grooms fathers bald patch
And took a big chunk off his head
So he smashed her in gob with his hearing aid
And left her in't jelly half dead.

At that the brides mother errupted
Without even excusing herself
And she poked the old fella, with a silver salt cellar
Which wasn't too good for his health.

Now the nephews and nieces chucked parkin
And splurted black peas all over t'room
An the in-laws and the out-laws, they battled like buggery
And the brides mother throttled the groom.

She were eight foot seven and six foot wide
And arms on her just like a bloke.
She'd teeth like the holy commandments
Ten of em - every one broke.

Good One Bamber!! (sweets tips her hat)