trad 1850-52
Appears with very similar text in 3 broadsides. Epic dating of the song on Mudcat based on the historical references.
Granny’s Attic: Granny’s Attic – Wheels Of The World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9unv05qVb8I
Come all you true sons of Erin; attend to these few simple lines: I’ll sing you a song about spinning. It was a good trade in old times. Some they spun worsted and yarn, and others they spun flax and tow. By experience, my friends, you may learn how the wheels of the world they do go. Chorus So these are the wheels of the world, my friends, you must all understand. For three hundred years, they’ve been spinning destruction all over the land. Lord Nelson he was a good spinner on board of the ship Victory. He was counted the greatest of spinners that ever set sail on the sea. His shipmen were all famous spinners. For Nelson they spun very well, But the French spun a ball in Trafalgar, and on the ship deck Nelson fell. Napoleon he was a good spinner, for freedom did always advance. Over deserts and great lofty mountains, he led on the brave sons of France. Old Wellington he went a-spinning. His wheels they were at Waterloo; But if Grouchy had never been bribed, the French would have split him in two. The factory masters are spinning. Their wheels they are turning away, And now they are wanting their hands for to work thirteen hours a day. They don’t care a fig for the poor. They heed not their sighs nor their moans. They don’t care a pin if you work till you spin all the flesh off your bones. The rich they are all famous spinners, and you are very well sure They are always contriving a scheme to crush down the rights of the poor. So if you’re compelled to go spinning, let each of your spindles be steel. Let “Liberty” then be your motto, and glory will turn your wheel.