Cokey Nolan sell’s fish, three ha’pence a dish

Don’t buy it, don’t’ buy it, It stinks when you fry it.

 

Edward Nolan was really his name

Cokey was his claim to fame

He just tried to make a bob

He couldn’t get a proper job

 

Salford kids did treat him wrong

On sight they sang his personal song

He’d turn to chase, then soldier on

The kids did scream, and they were gone

What more could poor old Cokey do

No chances of a job like me or you

Was it because of his IQ, or what his teachers failed to do?

 

His dad - don’t know, perhaps he’d gone

Maybe ashamed, and away had run

I know he lived with his old mam

He pushed a cart made from a pram

He loaded it with coal or coke

A better job he had no hope

 

In those past days in Salford City

When boys were tough and girls were pretty

Every one must pull their weight

But Cokey’s job we all would hate

His clothes, were dirty, his skin was caked

He really was in quiet a state

 

Yes I pulled coal in my old pram

To make a few bob as best I can

But Cokey did it as a job

It was his living was that few bob

I guess he tried to help his mam

By pulling a cart made from a pram

 

I don’t think back then had the dole

So what happened to old Cokey’s role

The coalman came, and had a truck

What did that do to Cokey’s luck

The coalman’s truck could pull ten-ton

One hundredweight and Cokey’s done

That’s all that would fit on his cart

To move it took a lot of heart

 

 

So Cokey would drag his cart along

With heavy heart, no need for song

His head was bowed his back was bent

He went those places where he was sent

 

Down Derby Street, and Regent Road

Cokey pulled his heavy load

On top of that the kids would tease

Perhaps Claremont Street will bring some ease

For Cokey the man we kids did tease

We were not aware of Cokey’s needs

Did he just need a little respect

Not the ridicule that he did get

 

He just kept pulling that nutty slack

Coal-yard to homes, forward and back

Cokey what was life really like for you

I guess it was just all you knew

A rotten way to gain your fame

But thousands do know of your name

 

I hope that Cokey before the end

You enjoyed your life and had some friends

So Cokey I raise my hat to you

You typify a spirit so true

You did not sit and mope around

You had your cart, and your coal round

You made a quid as best you could

You did your bit as a Salford lad would

So Cokey what more can I say

I’m sorry that I behaved that way

Ken Phoenix