Hard Times of Old England

Come all brother tradesment that travel along O pray, come and tell me where the trade is all gone Long time have I travelled, and I cannot find none Chorus 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? Chorus You must go to the shop and you'll ask for a job They'll answer you there with a shake and a nod And that's enough to make a man turn out and rob Chorus You will see the poor tradesmen a-walkin's the street From morning to night for employment to seek And scarce have they got any shoes to their feet Chorus Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war Been fighting for Queen and country this year 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 will not last long I hope soon to have occasion to alter my song, and sing Oh, the good times of old England In old England, jolly good times! --- Hard Times of Old England - Steeleye Span