The words are in the booklet of Ossian’s Greentrax album The Carrying Stream. The liner notes said:

Dating from the early days of the Labour Movement, the song extols the old working class ethics of honest toil, self reliance and humility. The tune and additional verses were written by Billy Ross.

THE WORKING MAN

I’m a working man as you can see
You’ll find an honest man in me
I’m neither haughty, mean nor proud
Nor ever tak the thing’s too rude
And I never gang above my means
Or beg assistance frae my friens
But day and night, through thick and thin
I work life out to keep life in

Chorus (after each verse):
No matter friends what e’er befa’
The poor folk they do work awa
Through frost and snow, and rain and wind
They work life out to keep life in

And the poor mill woman that we saw
In reality and on the wa’
Her picture sorrowful to see
I’m sure wi me you’ll a’ agree
Her pay’s scarce able to feed a moose
Far less to keep herself in hoose
She’s naked, hungry, pale and thin
She’s working life out to keep life in

But the Government says we’re to blame
And we should hang our heads wi shame
While a’ their dreams of greed they sell
The poor they’d leave to rot in hell
And who’s to care when you grow old
No chance for you the pot of gold
Still the honest man he tries to win
Working life out to keep life in

And though aftimes the road is hard
And hunger’s stalking in your yard
It’s providence in trust we’ll keep
The children in their beds shall sleep
But times will change and live to see
A better day for you and me
Frae Peterheid to Gretna Green
They work life out to keep life in