WHEN MY OLD HAT WAS NEW 2

I am a poor old man in years. Come listen to my song.
Provisions now are twice as dear as when I was young.
It was when this old hat was new, and stood upon my brow.
O what a happy youth was I when this old hat was new!

It's almost fourscore years ago, the truth I will declare,
When men could take each other's word and thought it very fair.
No note or bond they did require; men's words they were so true.
It was so in my youthful days, when this old hat was new.

Brotherly love it did abound. Oppression ne'er was heard.
But now the people are so poor, they scarcely can get bread,
Which makes them wander up and down not knowing what to do.
Such times did not abound when this old hat was new.

Upon the time of harvest when we went out to shear,
How often have we been merry made with brandy, ale, & beer;
And when the corn was got and thrown into the mow,
The shearers danced it well, when this old hat was new.

The master at the board-head sat, the table for to grace.
The servants as they all came in, each took his proper place;
And the dame with cheerful face gave to each man his due.
Such plenty aye did then abound when this old hat was new.

But now the times are altered to pinching of the poor.
They now receive their wages quite coldly at the door.
Into their houses we do not go, though we be e'er so few.
It was not so when Queen Bess did reign, or this old hat was new.

The commons they are taken in, and cottages pulled down,
And Moggy has no wool to spin a linsey-woolsey gown.
The winter's cold, the clothing's thin, and blankets very few.
We were well clothed, both bed and skin, when this old hat was new.

From Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 28(56), with spelling and
punctuation modernized by me[JD]

@clothes @aging @bitching
filename[ THOLDHT2
JD
Feb07
mudcat.org

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