Once I could ride in a coach, with horses to pull me along,
But now I'm in prison in prison so strong, I know not which way to turn

Once I could eat of the best, the best of bread only white,
But now I am glad of an old Barley crust and thankful for that only to bite

Once I could drink of the best, the best of ale brimming and brown,
But now I am glad of fresh water that floweth from town unto town

Once I was housed of the best, in a mansion so well furnished,
But now I am glad of the the thatch of a pig stye all for to cover my head

Once I could lie in the bed, a bed of the very down,
But now I am gald of a bunch of wheat straw to save my poor bones from the ground

Once I was clothed of the best, in linen and broadcloth spun fine,
But as naked as birth I'll go back to the earth and that friends is the end of my song

Chorus
So here's adieu to old England, here's adieu. Here's adieu to some thousands of pounds
If the world had been banished before I was born, my troubles i should not have known