Honest Labourer It was of an honest labourer, As I've heard people say, He goes out in the morning And he works hard all the day. And he's got seven children And most of them are small; He has nothing but hard labour To maintain them all. A gentlemen, one evening, Walking out to take the air, He met with this poor labouring man And solemnly declared, I think you are that thresherman Yes sir, said he, that's true How do you get your living Just as well as you do? Sometimes I do reap And sometimes I do mow And other times to hedging And to ditching I do go; There is nothing comes amiss to me From the harrow to the plough. That's how I get my living By the sweat of my brow. When I go home at night Just as tired as I be, I take my youngest child And I dance him on my knee. The others come around me With their prittle-prattling toys, And that's the only comfort A working man enjoys. "My wife and I are willing, And we both join in one yoke; We live like two turtle doves And not one word provoke, Although the times are very hard And we are very poor. We can scarcely keep the raving wolf Away from the door." Well done, you honest labourer, You speak well of your wife. I hope you will live happy All the days of your life. Here's forty acres of good land Which I will give to thee, Which will help to maintain your wife And little family. Recorded by the Copper Family JY
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!