According to folkinfo.org, Roy Palmer's words are When first I was a wagg'ner And a wagg'ner I did go, I filled my parents' hearts Full of sorrow, grief and woe; I filled my parents' hearts Full of sorrow, grief and woe. Chorus: So sing, whoa, my lads, sing whoa Drive on, my lads, heigh-o; There is none can lead a life Like we jolly wagg'ners do So sing, whoa, my lads, sing whoa Drive on, my lads, heigh-o; There is none can lead a life Like we jolly wagg'ners do It's a cold and stormy night, I was wet unto the skin; I'll bear it with contentment Till we get to the inn And then we'll get a drink With our landlord and our friends. Now summer time is coming, boys, What pleasure we should see The small birds are a-whistling On every green tree. The backbirds and the thrushes O Are whistling in the grove. Now Michaelmas is coming, boys, What pleasure we shallfind, We'll make the gold and silver fly Like chaff before the wind Then every lad shall take his lass And set her on his knee. Source: Everyman's Book of English Country Songs, Ed Roy Plamer, ISBN 0-460-12048-1 Notes: Roy Palmer altered the words of the first verse. "In verse 1, line 1 'when' has been substituted for 'oh' and in the last line of the same verse 'none' for 'more'" Collected from Mr Rose, landlord of Bridge Inn, Acle Norfolk, 14.4.1908 by Ralph Vaughan Williams, MS I 34(2) Roud: 1088 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six Laws: Child:
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