Great song. I found this in one of my old notebooks - I can't recall my source.

PETERLOO MASSACRE
(Harvey Kershaw)

In Peter's field in Manchester in year 1819
Cotton folk of Lancashire in protest did combine
Corn laws had brought the crippling tax
The price of food near broke folks backs
And set alight the smouldering flax
And bristled many a spine

Chorus:
Salute once more these men of yore
Who were to conscience true
And gave their blood for common good
On fields at Peterloo

Sixteenth day of August brought the sound of marching feet
When workers fifty thousand strong in Peter's field did meet
In Mount Street from an upstairs room, the magistrates looked down with gloom
And scoffed their rabble o the loom – vengeance, they vow, 'tis sweet

Then Riot Act were garbled out at Parson his command
For this here Rochdale vicar made with richest living in land
But folk at meeting never knew 'bout Riot Act till bugles blew
And mounted Redcoats come in view, their sabres in their hands

These soldiers mowed folk down like flies, their sabres dripped with blood
They spared no man nor woman's cry, but pierced them where they stood
Many dead that day were named and hundreds more were ripped and maimed
While tyrants watching unashamed said it would do them good

For many a year folks struggled on till 1832
Reform Act come, corn laws were done and food was cheaper too
John Bright and Cobden paved the way and now where Peter's field once lay
Free Trade Hall it stands today on field at Peterloo