Robert J Moore Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Days in Gorton, a suburb of Manchester England, in the 1950's, The incident never happened, and Billy Briggs is now a Facebook friend from West Gorton, now living in Blackpool, I lived in Gorton, before I moved to Oz. The Robert Street Gang, was a West Gorton Gang, and Billy was a member, but we never met

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West Gorton

West Gorton                                      
by Robert (Bob) Moore © 2015

Billy Briggs, he lived in Gorton, West Gorton to be precise
now the kids from West Gorton, were not very nice
they had the toughest gangs down there, so you had to know
if you were going to West Gorton, have your own gang in tow

Be careful just which street you walk, some you would not tread
you’re walking someone else’s ground, don’t look up just hang your head
you’re not here for trouble, there’s an errand to be done
so fix it, and then head home, your outnumbered here my son.

Then you hear the Robert Street Gang, know that your around
would like to know what you are doing, walking round their town
then there they are in front of you, young Billy and his crew
You can stare them down or fight them, run’s the other thing to do

Wat’cha doing here said Billy, a sneer upon his face
my granny’s sick we want to help, so we’re going to her place
Ok said Bill, we’ll help you through, just this once though mind
we’ll make sure you get there safe, you lads fall in behind

We fixed our Gran the best we could, and then, was time to go
we’ll keep an eye on her, said Billy, if she needs ya, we’ll let you know
they walked us back to the border line, Billy shook my hand and then
“ you Gorton lads are nancy boys, so don’t come back ag’en”
The pride came back, and then as one, we stepped back across the line

                               SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT THEN

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Keyonda Aldana August 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM • Perfectly Penned • Enjoyable • Enjoyed Listening • Adorable • Addictive Read • Entertaining • Bookmarked My Favorite Poem • Creative

John Fleming May 22, 2016 at 2:12 PM Bob...Simply enthralling! And whats more your obvious English accent has not, apparently, changed one Iota: An English man through and through - And damned proud you are of it I am certain! Cheers, Bob! :) john Robert J Moore May 22, 2016 at 6:07 PM Thanks John, I have a small group of (mostly) Gorton, or Ex-Gorton people on Facebook, "Poems and Ditties of Gorton and Other Things" and we post a few poems now and then, but this site is great.

John Fleming May 22, 2016 at 1:59 PM "SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT THEN"...love it! As a young lad I grew up in Warrington; your picture is an exact same image of the cobbled "Backs" that still exist in every back street in every avenue in this old town. Great poem, Bob. And now I am going to enjoy listening to it. My very best regards! :) john

Richard D Seal May 21, 2016 at 6:24 PM I just listened to your first poem Bob and thought, you've got to be an ex pat lol, then saw the title of this one and it all fell into place. I remember days like you describe here, great little story. Take care, Richard Robert J Moore May 21, 2016 at 8:47 PM Yes Richard, been in Oz for a long time now, I have a small Group on Facebook called Poems and Ditties about Gorton and other Things, me and another lad started it, and it is full of UK and ex- Gorton people, quite a few of the contribute, the ones I post here are all mine, a lot of my other poems are from times back then. Cheers Bob