According to “Victoria’s Inferno”, Jon Raven (1978), the text and melody are from the singing of a Tom Daniel (d. 1970, ae 76), a Batley, Yorkshire weaver, and had been collected from him by A. E. Green in 1965.\u00a0 An example of a song venting of woes and sometimes referred to as a “protest song”, but not in the manner we might think of it today.<\/p>\n
\nJos. Morneault<\/p>\n
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Chorus: Up every morning at five, Oh dear, I’m going to be late! Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n We have to wet our own yarn Sometimes a shuttle flies out Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n The tuner[5]<\/a> should tackle my loom, And Lizzie’s so easily led; Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n Oh my poor head how it sings, And when our wages they\u2019ll bring Chorus:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nSinging,<\/em><\/strong>
\n Poverty poverty knock, my loom it is saying all day<\/em><\/strong>
\n Poverty poverty knock, Gaffer’s too skinny[1]<\/a> to pay<\/em><\/strong>
\n Poverty poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock<\/em><\/strong>
\n I know I can guttle[2]<\/a> when I hear me shuttle go<\/em><\/strong>
\n Poverty poverty knock<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIt’s a wonder that we keep alive!
\nTired and yawning on the cold morning
\nAnd back to the dreary, old drive.<\/p>\n
\nGaffer[3]<\/a> is stood at the gate,
\nWith his hands in his pockets our wages he’ll dock us;
\nWe’ll have to buy grub on the slate.<\/p>\n
\nby dipping it in yonder tarn.[4]<\/a>
\nIt’s cold and it’s soggy, it makes me feel groggy,
\nAnd there’s rats in that dirty old barn.<\/p>\n
\nAnd gives some poor woman a clout.
\nShe lies there bleeding while nobody’s heading;
\nWho’s going to carry her out?<\/p>\n
\nBut he just sits there on his bum!
\nHe’s always busy a-courting our Lizzie
\nAnd I just can’t get him to come.<\/p>\n
\nI reckon he takes her to bed.
\nShe used to be skinny, now look at her pinny,[6]<\/a>
\nIt’s just about tied by a thread.<\/p>\n
\nI should have woven three strings!
\nThe threads they keep breaking, my poor heart is aching;
\nOh God, how I wish I had wings!<\/p>\n
\nWe\u2019re often short of a string.
\nWhile we are fratchin\u2019[7]<\/a> with gaffer for snatchin\u2019,
\nWe know to his brass he will cling.<\/p>\n
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