For seventeen years I`ve been scrubbing this washboard Ever since the fellas started in after me My mother poor soul didn`t know what to do The Canon said " Child there`s a place for you" Now I`m serving my time at the Magdalen Laundry I`m towing the line at the Magdalen Laundry
There`s girls from the country,girls from the town Their bony white elbows going up and down The reverend mother as she glides through the place A tight little smile on the side of her face She`s running the show at the Magdalen Laundry She`s got nowhere to go but the Magdalen Laundry
Oh Lord won`t you let me Don`t you let me Won`t you let me wash away the stain Oh Lord won`t you let me wash away the stain
I`m washing altar linen and cassocks and stoles I`m scrubbing long johns for these holy joes We know where they`ve been when they`re not saving souls What the red wine split what the smooth hand poured We`re squeezing it out at the Magdalen Laundry We`re scrubbing it out at the Magdalen Laundry
Oh Lord won`t you let me Don`t you let me Won`t you let me wash away the stain Oh Lord won`t you let me wash away the stain
Sunday afternoon when the Lord`s at rest It`s off to the prom watch the waves roll by We`re chewing on our toffees hear the seagulls squawk There go the maggies the children talk Through our faces they stare at the Magdalen Laundry In our eyes see the glare of the Magdalen Laundry
Oh Lord won`t you let me Don`t you let me Won`t you let me wash the stain Oh Lord won`t you let me wash away the stain
Oh Lord won`t you let me Don`t you let me Won`t you let me wash away the stain Oh Lord won`t you let me wash away the stain
Oh Lord won`t you let me Don`t you let me Won`t you let me wash away the stain Oh Lord won`t you let me wash away the stain