Hard Times Of Old England Lyrics - Live At A Distance - Steeleye Span

Come all brother tradesment that travel along 

O pray, come and tell me where the trade is all gone 

Long time have I travelled, and I cannot find none 

Chorus 

And sing all the hard times of old England 

In old England, very hard times 

Provisions you buy at the shop, it is true 

But if you've no money, there's none there for you 

So what's a poor man and his family to do? 

Chorus 

You must go to the shop and you'll ask for a job 

They'll answer you there with a shake and a nod 

And that's enough to make a man turn out and rob 

Chorus 

You will see the poor tradesmen a-walkin's the street 

From morning to night for employment to seek 

And scarce have they got any shoes to their feet 

Chorus 

Our soldiers and sailors have just come from war 

Been fighting for Queen and country this year 

Come home to be starved, better stayed where they were 

Chorus 

And now to conclude and to finish my song 

Let us hope that these hard times will not last long 

I hope soon to have occasion to alter my song, and sing 

Oh, the good times of old England 

In old England, jolly good times!