Hard Times of Old England

Come all brother tradesmen that travel along;

Oh, pray come and tell me where the trade is all gone.

Long time I have travelled and cannot find none,

Chorus

And it's Oh the hard times of Old England,

In Old England very hard times

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?

Chorus

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

Chorus

You will see the poor tradesman a-walking the street

From morning 'til night, for employment to seek,

And scarcely they've got any shoes to their feet

Chorus

Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war;

Been fighting for their Queen and their country, 'tis sure

Come home to be starved, better stayed where they were

Chorus

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 it's Oh, the good times of Old England,

In Old England jolly good times