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

@farm @work

filename[ HONLABOR

JY

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