On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At

Please Note: As with any dialect, numerous spellings develop over time. We can therefore not comment on whether any particular version is correct or not, but what we do want to do is collect as many different versions as possible. If you have an version which does not already appear here, or have any information or folk-lore about the song, please get in touch.

[To answer many queries ... "Baht'at" translates as "Without a Hat"]

Version 2: Source Unknown >>> Next Version >>> The Musical Score

This version was supplied by Bradford Libraries, who also provided an explanation of the origins of the song

ON ILKA MOOR BAHT'AT

Wheer wor to bahn when ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
Wheer wor to bahn when ah saw thee?
Wheer wor to bahn when ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at?!

Tha's bin a courtin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bin a courtin' Mary Jane
Tha's bin a courtin' Mary Jane
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Tha's bahn to get thi death o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Tha's bahn to get thi death o'cowd
Tha's bahn to get thi death o'cowd
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
Then we shall ha' to bury thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then t'worms'll coom an' ate thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'worms'll coom an' ate thee oop
Then t'worms'll coom an' ate thee oop
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then t'ducks'll coom an' ate oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then t'ducks'll coom an' ate oop t'worms
Then t'ducks'll coom an' ate oop t'worms
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then we shall go an' ate oop t'ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall go an' ate oop t'ducks
Then we shall go an' ate oop t'ducks
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
Then we shall all 'ave etten thee
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
That's wheer we get us oahn back
That's wheer we get us oahn back
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at
On Ilkla Moor baht 'at

On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at [Version 2]

On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at
[Version 2]