Fourpence a Day

The ore is waiting in the tubs, the snow's upon the fell
 Canny folks are sleeping yet but lead is right to sell
 Come, my little washer laddie, come, and let's away
 We're bound down to slavery for fourpence a day
 Fourpence a day, fourpence a day
 We're bound down to slavery for fourpence a day
 It's early in the morning, we rise at five o'clock
 The little slaves come to the door to knock, knock, knock
 Come, my little washer laddie, come, and let's away
 It's very hard to work for fourpence a day
 Fourpence a day, fourpence a day
 It's very hard to work for fourpence a day
 Father were a miner, he lived down in the town
 'Twas hard work and poverty that always kept him down
 He aimed for me to go to school, but brass he couldn't pay
 So I had to go the washing rake for fourpence a day
 Fourpence a day, fourpence a day
 I had to go the washing rake for fourpence a day
 Fourpence a day, fourpence a day
 It's very hard to work for fourpence a day
 Mother rises out of bed with tears upon her cheek
 Puts me wallet on me shoulders, which has to serve a week
 It often fills my heart with woe when she to me does say
 "I never thought that tha would work for fourpence a day!"
 Fourpence a day, me lad, and very hard to work
 Ne'er a pleasant look from a gruffy looking cur
 His conscience it may fail and his heart it may give way
 Maybe he'll raise our wages to ninepence a day
 Ninepence a day, ninepence a day
 Maybe he'll raise our wages to ninepence a day
 Fourpence a day, fourpence a day
 It's very hard to work for fourpence a day