Left to right: Steve Welch (Black Country Radio), Gaz Sawers (Black Country Day & Festival 2014), Brian Dakin
In a possible first for a UK sub-national flag, the Black Country Flag now has its own song.
Local poet and academic Brian Dakin wrote it for Black Country Day, in the famous YamYam dialect.
Brian’s research work involves notions of identity through language, in particular the various Black Country dialects.
Having a day and a flag gives physical and emotional focus to local people, he maintains.
Incidentally, Brian’s poetry helped to inspire Communities Vexillologist Philip Tibbetts to launch his campaign for a Black Country Flag.
In partnership with the Black Country Living Museum, he organised a successful competition.
He then persuaded the museum and the Black Country Society to name 14 July as Black Country Day.
Listen to a taster of Brian’s dialect poetry here, and read his lyrics below.
The Flag
The black an’ red cone on white
Black by day an’ red by night.
Link on chains mark on life
Stond afoowa the flag.
Stories ‘eld we in aiche fold
Mill lines an’ back t’ back fodes.
Lezzers, bonks pride teks ‘old
Stond afoowa the flag.
Fly the flag fly the flag
‘igh above our Black Country.
Fly the flag fly the flag
It’s a part on all on we.
Markin’ time threw centuries
Mines an’ cuts, factories.
Seggs on toil ‘eld in the weave
Stond afoowa the flag.
Struggles kep in warp an’ weft
Poundin’ feelin’ grips our chest.
Like chainwimmin we march in step
T’ stond afoowa the flag.
Fly the flag fly the flag
‘igh above our Black Country.
Fly the flag fly the flag
The unity on family.
In every town come join the crowds
Mothers fathers daughters sons.
Come t’ sing let voices ring
F’ ‘ere we dun belong.
Colliers miners men on steel
Men on glass boatmen there.
Chainmekers cort in the breeze
Stond afoowa the flag.
Babbys they con grow an’ ‘no’
‘istrys ‘ere the seed is sowed.
A tear falls as there it rose
Stond afoowa the flag.
Fly the flag fly the flag
All across the Black Country.
In all the towns the sound resounds
Ketch it f’ it’s part on thee.
Fly the flag fly the flag
‘igh above the Black Country.
Fly the flag fly the flag
Unity in ‘istry.
