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