Poverty Knock Lyrics - Chumbawamba

(Chorus) 

'Poverty poverty knock,' my loom is a saying all day 

Poverty poverty knock, gaffer's too skinny to pay 

Poverty poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock 

I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go, 'poverty poverty knock' 

Up every morning at five, a wonder that we keep alive 

Tired and yawning on a cold morning 

It's back to the dreary old drive. 

(Repeat chorus) 

Oh dear we're gonna late 

Gaffer is stood at the gate 

We'll be out o pocket, our wages he'll dockit 

We'll have to buy grub on the slate 

(Repeat chorus) 

And when our wages they'll bring, we're often short of a string 

While we are fighting with gaffer for snatching (?) 

We know to his breast he will cling 

(Repeat chorus) 

Sometimes a shuttle flies out 

and gives some poor woman a clout 

There she lies bleeding but nobody's heeding 

Oh who's going to carry her out? 

(Repeat chorus) 

Oh dear, my poor head it sings 

I should have woven three strings 

My threads are breaking and my back is aching 

Oh dear, I wish I had wings 

Poverty poverty knock 

Poverty poverty knock 

Poverty poverty knock