THE LABOURING MAN
You Englishmen of each degree,
A moment listen unto me.
To please you all I do intend,
With these few lines that I do to pen.
From day to day you all may see,
The poor are frowned on by degree.
By them, you know who never can
Do without the labouring man.
Chorus (repeated after each verse):
Now let England do the best she can,
She can’t do without the labouring man.
Old England always leads the van,
But not without the labouring man.
In former days, you all do know,
A poor man cheerful used to go.
Neat and clean, upon my life,
With his children and his wife.
And for his labour it was said,
A fair day’s wages he was paid.
But now to live he hardly can—
May God protect the labouring man.
When Bonaparte and Nelson too,
And Wellington at Waterloo.
Were fighting both by land and sea,
The poor man gained the victory!
Their hearts were cast in honour’s mould,
The soldiers and the sailors bold.
And every battle, you must understand
Was carried by the labouring man.
Now, if wars do rise again,
And England be in want of men.
They’ll have to search the country round
To find the lads that plough the ground,
Who harrow the ground and till the wheat,
And every danger boldly meet.
For England always leads the van,
But not without the labouring man.
HARD TIMES OF OLD ENGLAND
Come all brother tradesmen that travel along
O pray, come and tell me where the trade is all gone
Long time have I travelled, and I cannot find none
Chorus
And sing all the hard times of old England
In old England, very hard times
Provisions you buy at the shop, it is true
But if you’ve no money, there’s none there for you
So what’s a poor man and his family to do?
Chorus
And sing all the hard times of old England
In old England, very hard times
You must go to the shop and you’ll ask for a job
They’ll answer you there with a shake and a nod
And that’s enough to make a man turn out and rob
Chorus
And sing all the hard times of old England
In old England, very hard times
You will see the poor tradesmen a-walkin’ the street
From morning to night for employment to seek
And scarce have they got any shoes to their feet
Chorus
And sing all the hard times of old England
In old England, very hard times
Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war
Been fighting for Queen and country this year
Come home to be starved, better stayed where they were
Chorus
And sing all the hard times of old England
In old England, very hard times
And now to conclude and to finish my song
Let us hope that these hard times will not last long
I hope soon to have occasion to alter my song, and sing
Oh, the good times of old England
In old England, jolly good times!
WORK A WAY, JOE
When I was a little lad
And so my mother told me,
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
That if I did not kiss the gals
Me lips would all grow moldy.
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, the good ship is a-bolding,
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, the sheet is now unfold-ing,
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
King Louis was the king of France
Before the revolution
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
But then he got his head cut off
Which spoiled his constitution
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, we’ll work for better weather
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way work away, we’ll work away together
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
The cook is in the galley boys
Making duff so handy
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
The captain’s in his cabin lads
Drinking wine and brandy
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, I’ll sing to you of Nancy
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, she’s just my cut and fancy
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way, work away, we’ll work for better weather
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!
Way work away, we’ll work away together
Way, work away, we’ll work away, Joe!