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