trad
Collected by the Reverend Geoffry Hill in Durrington and published in his 1898 book Wiltshire Folk Songs and Carols
The Teacups: https://haystackrecords.bandcamp.com/track/labouring-man
https://haystackrecords.bandcamp.com/track/labouring-man
You Englishmen of each degree, A moment listen unto me. To please you all I do intend, With these few lines that I do to pen. From day to day you all may see, The poor are frowned on by degree. By them, you know who never can Do without the labouring man. Chorus: Now let England do the best she can, She can’t do without the labouring man. Old England always leads the van, But not without the labouring man. In former days, you all do know, A poor man cheerful used to go. Neat and clean, upon my life, With his children and his wife. And for his labour it was said, A fair day’s wages he was paid. But now to live he hardly can- May God protect the labouring man. When Bonaparte and Nelson too, And Wellington at Waterloo. Were fighting both by land and sea, The poor man gained the victory! Their hearts were cast in honour’s mould, The soldiers and the sailors bold. And every battle, you must understand Was carried by the labouring man. Now, if wars do rise again, And England be in want of men. They’ll have to search the country round To find the lads that plough the ground, Who harrow the ground and till the wheat, And every danger boldly meet. For England always leads the van, But not without the labouring man.