Hard Times of Old England

Come all brother, tradesmen that travel along O pray, come and tell me where the trade is all gone Long time have I traveled and I cannot find none And sing all 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? And sing all the hard times of old England In old England, very hard times You must go to the shop and you'll ask for a job They'll answer you there with a shake and a nod Well, that's enough to make a man turn out and rob And sing all the hard times of old England In old England, very hard times You will see the poor tradesmen a-walkin' the street From morning to night for employment to seek And scarce have they got any shoes to their feet And sing all the hard times of old England In old England, very hard times Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war They been fighting for Queen and country this year They come home to be starved, better stay where they were And sing all the hard times of old England In old England, very hard times 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 all the good times of old England In old England, jolly good times And it's all the good times of old England In old England, jolly good times And it's all the good times of old England In old England, jolly good times