The ore's a-waiting in the tubs, the snow's upon t'fell
Canny folks they're sleeping yet but lead is reet to sell
Come, me little washer lad, come, let's away
We're bound down to slavery for fourpence a day

It's early in the morning, we rise at five o'clock
And the little slaves come to the foot to knock, knock, knock
Come, me little washer lad, come, let's away
It's very hard to work for a fourpence a day

Me daddy was a miner, he lived down in t' town
’Twere hard work and poverty it always kept him down
He aimed for me to go to school, but brass he couldn't pay
So I had to go to the washing rake for fourpence a day

Me mother rises out of bed with tears upon her cheek
Puts me wallet on me shoulders, it has to last a week
It often fills her great big heart when she to me does say
I nivvor thought thaa'd 'av te work for fourpence a day

Fourpence a day, my lad, the work is very hard
And never a pleasant nod from a gruffy looking sod
His conscience it may fail and his heart it may gi'e way
Then he'll raise our wages to ninepence a day