The Brisk Young Worker

to the tune of The Brisk Young Tailor (trad)

It's of a brisk young worker, whose story I'll relate,
He lived beneath the government of Howard and his mate,
Oh Howard was in charge and the other was Costell,
And taking workers' rights away they loved exceeding well,
Oh well, oh well, oh well my boys oh well,
And taking workers' rights away they loved exceeding well.

This worker had a mortgage and family to feed,
And him not being paid enough he couldn't meet the need,
He couldn't meet his need with the pay that he was on,
He swore he'd have a better deal before the year was done,
Was done, was done, was done my boys was done,
He swore he'd have a better deal before the year was done.

And soon he met with management and things were looking sunny,
But while they were a-talking they were fingering of his money,
Fingering of his money when he heard himself to say,
"If you'll give me a better deal I'll sign my rights away",
Away, away, away my boys away,
If you'll give me a better deal I'll sign my rights away.

So the worker gave his union up and work agreement signed,
The bosses were all friendly and they seemed to be so kind,
But when the year passed and gone he looked around and saw,
They'd pushed the workers' wages right down to the floor,
The floor, the floor, the floor my boys the floor,
They'd pushed the workers' wages right down to the floor.

Has ever a poor worker been done as I've been done,
My wages and conditions and my union are all gone,
The kids are going hungry and the bank is at the door,
If ever I get my union back I'll never sign no more,
No more, no more, no more my boys no more,
If ever I get my union back I'll never sign no more.