The song was re-made in this form early in the 20th century in a campaign to re-establish the Agricultural Workers Union in East Anglia
Jim Carroll

OLD MAN'S ADVICE

My grandfather worked when he was very young,
And his parents felt grieved that he should,
To be forced in the fields to scare away the crows,
To earn himself a bit of food,
The days they were long and his wages were but small,
And to do his best he always tried,
But times are better for us all,
Since the old man died.

For the union is started, unite, unite,
Cheer up faint hearted, unite, unite,
The work's begun, never to stop again,
Since the old man died.

My grandfather said in the noontide of life,
Poverty was a grief and a curse,
For it brought to his home sorrow, discord and strife,
And kept him poor with empty purse,
So he took a bold stand and joined the union band,
To help his fellow men he tried,
A union man he vowed he'd stand
Till the day he died.

For the union………………………               

My grandfather's dead, as we gathered round his bed,
These last words to us he did say:
Don't let your union drop nor the agitation stop,
Or else you'll soon rue the day,
Get united to a man, for it is your only plan,
Make the union your care and your pride,
Help on reform in every way you can,
Then the old man died.

For the union…………………….