Tony Rose - Us Poor Fellows lyrics

The times they are hard and the wages are poor None of us poor fellows has money in store So how can a good man keep the wolf from the door? Poor fellows, we all will go down: When work it is scarce, tell me, how can we eat? How can we afford to buy shoes for our feet And how can we get clothing to keep off the sleet? Poor fellows, we might as well drown. If we could find labour we ne'er would complain We'd work well for a master his favour to gain We'd be honest and faithful with never a stain But, poor fellows, how will we survive? We could plough the good land, we could fish the salt sea We could work in the woodland a-felling of trees But when only the breath of our bodies is free, Poor fellows, can we stay alive? Now a man that is single, he's free of all care He can soon leave a district if no work be there There's no manner of hardship that he cannot bear Poor fellows, if he is alone; But a man with a family, his hands they are tied He must look to their comfort or lose all his pride He can't wander away but must stay by their side Poor fellows, and maintain his home. Oh a man that is willing can't understand why He can find no employment how hard he may try And it break his poor heart for to see his wife cry So poor fellow, he'll do what he can; And a man that is desperate and can't find a job He will not be contended to sit home and sob But he ever so honest, he'll turn out and rob Poor fellow, to prove he's a man. If a good man goes robbing, you know it's a shame He brings scorn and misfortune on his honest name But it pitiful straits, tell me, who is to blame? Poor fellow, you know he must try; So let's hope that these hard times they soon pa** away All unto our sweet saviour we earnestly pray That this dark cloudy morn brings a glorious day Poor fellows, some time ere we die.