I'm a working chap as you may see, You'll find an honest lad in me; I'm neither haught, mean nor proud, Nor ever tak's the thing too rude. I never gang abune my means, Nor seek assistance frae my frien's, But day and nicht thro' thick and thin, I'm workin' life oot to keep life in. Chorus: Nae matter, frien's, whate'er befa' The puir folks they maun work ava, Thro' frost and snaw and rain and wind, They're workin' life oot to keep life in. |
The puir needle-woman that we saw, In reality, and on the wa', A picture sorrowful to see, I'm sure wi' me you'll a' agree; Her pay's scarce able to feed a mouse, Far less to keep hersel' and house, She's naked, hungry, pale and thin, Workin' life oot to keep life in. Don't ca' a man a drunken sot Because he wears a ragged coat; It's better far, mind, don't forget, To rin in rags than rin in debt. He may look seedy, very true, But still his creditors are few; And he toddles on devoid of sin, Workin' life oot to keep life in. |
But maybe, frien's, I've stayed ower lang, But I hope I hae said naething wrang; I only merely want to show The way the puir folk hae to go. Just look at a man wi' a housefu' o' bairns, To rear them up it tak's a' he earns, Wi' a willin' heart and a coat gey thin, He's workin' life oot to keep life in. |