Chris Foster - The Working Chap

I'm a working chap as you may see
And you'll find an honest lad in me.
I'm neither haughty, mean, nor proud
And I never takes to things too rude.
I never go beyond my means
Nor seek assistance from my friends
But day and night, through thick and thin
I'm working life out to keep life in.

No matter, friends, what e'er befall
The poor folk, they must work away
Through frost and snow and rain and wind
They are working life out to keep life in.

The poor needlewoman that we saw
In reality and on the wall
A picture sorrowful to see
I'm sure with me you'll all agree
Her pay scarce able to feed a mouse
Far less to keep herself and house
And she is naked, hungry, pale, and thin
Working life out to keep life in.

No matter, friends, what e'er befall
The poor folks, they must work away
Through frost and snow and rain and wind
They are working life out to keep life in.

Don't call a man a drunken sod
Because he wears a ragged coat.
Remember, friends, it's better yet
To run in rags than run in debt.
He may look seedy, very true
But still his creditors are few.
And he toddles on, devoid of sin
Working life out to keep life in.

No matter, friends, what e'er befall
The poor folks, they must work away
Through frost and snow and rain and wind
They are working life out to keep life in.

Now maybe, friends, I've stayed too long
But I hope that I've said nothing wrong.
I only merely want to show
The way the poor folks have to go.
Consider a man with a house full of bairns
To feed them it takes all he earns
But with a willing heart and a coat so thin
He's working life out to keep life in.

No matter, friends, what e'er befall
The poor folks, they must work away
Through frost and snow and rain and wind
They are working life out to keep life in.