Wor Geordie's lost his penka

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"Wor Geordie's lost his penka" (or ... his liggie) is a Geordie folk song, the origins of which are unknown. The 'penka' was the large marble that the other marbles or 'liggies' were rolled at, in a game of marbles.

Lyrics[]

The full version is as follows, though not all verses are found in early editions:

Hey, wor Geordie's lost 'is penka
Wor Geordie's lost 'is penka
Wor Geordie's lost 'is penka
Doon the double raw

And he couldn't find his penka (3×)

Well, it ralled reet doon the koondy
So he's gone ta fetch a claes prop
And he rammed it up the koondy
But the claes prop wad na' fetch it
So he's gone ta fetch a terrier
And he tied it to the claes prop
And he shooved it up the koondy
But the terrier wad na' fetch it
Naa he's gone ta fetch a wee bairn
And he tied it to the claes prop
And he shooved it up the koondy)
But still it wad na' fetch it
So he's gone ta get goon pooda
And he poured it up the koondy
Then he set fire to the pooda
Hey, wor Geordie's foond 'is penka

It was in his trouser pooket
It was in his trouser pooket
It was in his trouser pooket
And he's blon the double raw.

Regional variations[]

Several Northern Ireland versions from Belfast have "Wee Willie lost his marley" with either "Down by the Old Mill Road", "...the Springfield Road" or "...the Shankill Road". A Glasgow version is "Wee Johnny's lost his jaurie" with often "Doon the Broomielaw". In the Black Country it becomes "Our kid's lost his glarney". Versions sung in the South of England and the USA use the Standard English word "marble".