"Step in, young man, I know your face
It's nothing in your favour
A little time I'll give to you:
Six months unto hard labour.”

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

At six o'clock the screw comes in
A bunch of keys all in his hand
Step up, my lads, step up in time
And tread the wheel 'til breakfast time

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

And at eight o'clock the skilly comes in
It's sometimes thick and it's sometimes thin
And never a word dare we all say
Or it's bread and water all next day

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

At half past eight the bell do ring
And off to the chapel, boys, we must swing
Down on our bended knees we fall
The Lord have mercy on us all

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

And at nine o'clock the jangle ring
And all on the trap, boys, we must spring
“Step up, my lads, step up in time
The wheel's to tread and the corn's to grind.”

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

Now Saturday's come, I am sorry to say
For Sunday is starvation day
Our hobnail boots and our tin mugs too
They are not shined and they will not do

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

When six long months are gone and past
Then I'll return to the bonny, bonny lass
I'll leave the turnkeys all behind
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!