poverty knock

'poverty poverty knock

' my loom is a saying all day

poverty poverty knock

gaffer's too skinny to pay

poverty poverty knock

keeping one eye on the clock

i know i can guttle when i hear my shuttle go

'poverty poverty knock'

up every morning at five

i wonder that we keep alive

tired and yawning another cold morning

it's back to the dreary old drive. oh dear we're going to be late

gaffer is stood at the gate

we're out of pocket

our wages they'll docket

we'll have to buy grub on the slate

and when our wages they bring

we're often short of a string

while we are fighting with gaffer for snatching

we know to his brass he will cling

sometimes a shuttle flies out

and gives some poor woman a clout

there she lies bleeding but nobody's heeding

oh who's going to carry her out?

oh dear

my poor head it sings

i should have woven three strings

my threads are breaking and my back is aching

oh dear

i wish i had wings

poverty poverty knock

poverty poverty knock

poverty poverty knock