Lyrics and footnotes copied from "MacEdward Leach and the Songs of Atlantic Canada" at Memorial University of Newfoundland. (I have added punctuation.):

COPPER AND SILVER

Performed by Frank Knox
Accession # 78-054 NFLD 2 Tape 18A Track 1
Community: St. Shott's
Audio: Yes
Genre: Ballad

1. When I was a youngster and started to roam,
My mother said: "Now, boy, before you leave home,
My advice l will give you on the best thing to do
Is save just a copper each week from the few,

CHORUS: "For your coppers may grow unto silver;
Your silver will grow unto gold.
It's this you will find very useful
To help you, my boy, when you're old.

2. "And when you have travelled and seen all through life,
Don't never be bashful in taking a wife,
For a wife is a comfort to a man, l must say,
And all will go well if you work the right way.

3. "And the dear one you'll marry don't never neglect,
For she will look on you always with respect.
Your trials and troubles you'll share with your wife,
And all will go well on your journey through life.

4. "For when you have money your friends will come 'round,
And when you haven't any, they're hard to be found.
Keep your head above water, my boy, if you can,
And all will go well if you follow my plan.

History: Probably 19th-century sheet music, judging from moralizing tone and musical form.

Text: Mother advises her son to save a copper a week, assuring him that the coppers will turn to silver and then to gold.

Tune: Triple metre, major key. The verse-refrain structure is rare in older Newfoundland repertoires. The verse structure is 'abab'.