 | Vulgar Verses |  |
Sir, you know what I can do: an' I wish I was at it ageean—
With a tub o' coal behind me, an' my own owd belt an' cheean!
Eh, what a shame it is, as they treats us wenches so!
Never with your leave or by your leave, they tell'd us all to go;
They've took the bread clean oot on oor mooths, aye, every mother an' maid,
An' all for to pleasure the men-folk, as wants to steal oor trade!
Well, if it's hard an' mucky, who knows that better nor me?
But I liked it, an' it was my livin'—an' so it had ought to be:
Surelȳ, a wench med choose her work! An' as for the dirt, you know
I was hardly blacker, down i' the pit, nor I are as you see me now.
Couldn't I work theer ageean, sir? I'd go as snug as I can;
I'd cut my hair quite short, I would, an' I'd dress mysel like a man:
Why, I've getten my breeches here, an' my owd topcoat an' all,
An' I lay they suits me better nor a Sunday bonnet an' shawl;
For my shouthers is rare and broad, you see, an' I never had much of a figure,
An' my hands is as hard as nails, look, an' as big as a man's or bigger;
An' what is a woman's voice, when you shouts, but never speaks?
An' my face 'ud be thick wi' coal-dust, so they'd never notice my cheeks;
An' the best on it is, I are tall, so they wouldna make much out o' me;
If I once goes down like a man, sir, why a man I can easy be.
My mates 'ud know me, it's true; but they wouldna tell, not they!
So, if you'll ony let me, why I'll do it, straight away.
With a tub o' coal behind me, an' my own owd belt an' cheean!
Eh, what a shame it is, as they treats us wenches so!
Never with your leave or by your leave, they tell'd us all to go;
They've took the bread clean oot on oor mooths, aye, every mother an' maid,
An' all for to pleasure the men-folk, as wants to steal oor trade!
Well, if it's hard an' mucky, who knows that better nor me?
But I liked it, an' it was my livin'—an' so it had ought to be:
Surelȳ, a wench med choose her work! An' as for the dirt, you know
I was hardly blacker, down i' the pit, nor I are as you see me now.
Couldn't I work theer ageean, sir? I'd go as snug as I can;
I'd cut my hair quite short, I would, an' I'd dress mysel like a man:
Why, I've getten my breeches here, an' my owd topcoat an' all,
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For my shouthers is rare and broad, you see, an' I never had much of a figure,
An' my hands is as hard as nails, look, an' as big as a man's or bigger;
An' what is a woman's voice, when you shouts, but never speaks?
An' my face 'ud be thick wi' coal-dust, so they'd never notice my cheeks;
An' the best on it is, I are tall, so they wouldna make much out o' me;
If I once goes down like a man, sir, why a man I can easy be.
My mates 'ud know me, it's true; but they wouldna tell, not they!
So, if you'll ony let me, why I'll do it, straight away.
| Vulgar Verses | |