Rollo the Dog | Sean Cooney

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Rollo the Dog

by Sean Cooney

supported by

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davidcoinsit We love dogs and an heroic one even more!

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about

The legend of the dog who saved the baby during the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864.

Features in 'City of Rivers' Exhibition, Weston Park Museum, Sheffield til November 2024

originally commissioned by Soundpost for Lakeland Song Cycle 2022

picture credit - A Faithful Friend, Sheffield Museums

lyrics

Rollo the Dog

You’ve heard about them wonder dogs all fit to raise a smile
Like dogs who’ve found their own way home and walked a thousand miles
Or dogs who held their heads in war who walked this land in grace
Dogs who’ve been on submarines and dogs who’ve been to space
Here’s to the hounds of Hollywood who’ve done a fancy bit
And to all those dogs who’ve done nowt much but eat and sleep and sit
But here’s a little ditty for a doggie long ago
His master named him ‘Rollo’ and the story you should know

Was the saddest night in Sheffield was in 1864
When Dale Dike Dam collapsed and water thundered down below
Near 300 souls were lost beneath its hungry tide
As factories, foundries, bridges, barns were swiftly swept aside
Now Rollo he was sleeping fast by Philadelphia gate
As Gunson’s gig came rattling past the hour was getting late
Was two minutes to midnight he was wakened from his dream
Was like the world was ending and the pigs began to scream

No derby horse could run as fast to raise a warning cry
A Bradfield baby, one day old, would be the first to die
Through Damflask down the Loxley then the water thundered on
And Rollo knew the danger so he headed to the Don
He heard a baby cry out like a banshee in the night
He dove into the filthy foam and swam with all his might
His teeth grabbed to her basket and he pulled her to the shore
While people gaped in wonderment upon the deed they saw

Was barely but one hour before the torrent had been spent
Yet all the way to Rotherham the devastation went
Subscription soon was raised that night to thank the faithful hound
A golden collar were inscribed, his name was shouted loud
And though no record of his deed was ever written down
Though there’s no statue of him in the centre of the town
Mary North, she swore with pride her parents told her right
That she had been the baby that the dog had saved that night

160 years would pass until one dusty day
In the archives there on Shoreham Street they found a musty tray
And a picture titled ‘faithful friend’ pulling for the shore
‘In memory of Great Sheffield Flood, 1864’
Now maybe on some bow wow shore the tails are going wild
Soter sits a smiling, Swansea Jack is at his side
There’s Laika, Buddy, Rin Tin Tin and all the motley crew
And Rollo sits among just like every word was true

credits

released November 8, 2023

license

all rights reserved

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about

Sean Cooney image

Sean Cooney Sheffield, UK

Sean Cooney is a songwriter, folk singer, storyteller, radio presenter and member of the award winning band, the Young’uns.

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