The Hard Times of Old England

1. Come all brother tradesmen that travel alone O pray come and tell me where the trade is all gone Long time I have travelled and cannot find none

Chorus: And it's: O, the hard times of old England In old Eng-e-land very hard times.

2. Provisions you buy at the shop it is true But if you've no money there's none there for you So what's a poor man and his family to do?

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3. If you go to a shop and you ask for a job They will answer you there with a shake and a nod So that's enough to make a man turn out and rob

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4. You will see the poor tradesmen a-walking the street From morning till night for employment to seek And scarcely they've got any shoes on their feet

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5. Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war Been fighting for their queen and the country, 'tis sure Come home to be starved, better stayed where they were

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6. And now to conclude and to finish my song Let us hope that these hard times they will not last long I hope soon to have occasion to alter my song:

And sing: O, the good times of old England In old Eng-e-land jolly good times.