Another recent thread was about The Farmer and His Wife-- a song in which the man bets his wife that he can do more work in a day than she can, and he, of course, loses. This song is a variation on the same theme, though not the same song at all. It does not appear to be posted in the forum or DT, so here it is, for all you overworked Mudcat women!

Genie


A Woman's Work is Never Done
The song was printed in England on broadsides in the mid 1800s. It was printed as (A) Woman Never Knows When Her Day's Work's Done, A Married Woman's Work is Never Done and is noted as sung to the tune Far, Far Upon The Sea.

Come all who roam, both old and young, and listen to my song,
I'll tell you of a circumstance, that will not keep you long;
I saw a man the other day, as savage as a Turk,
And he was grumbling at his wife and said she did no work.

So men, if you would happy be, don't grumble at your wife so;
For no man can imagine what a woman has to do.

He said: You lazy huzzy! Indeed you must confess;
For I'm a-tired of keeping you in all your idleness.
The woman she made answer: I work as hard as you,
And I will just run through the list what a woman has to do.

So men, if you would happy be, don't grumble at your wife so;
For no man can imagine what a woman has to do.

At six o'clock each morning off to your work you go;
At eight I rise to light the fire and the bellows for to blow;
I have to set the tea things' and get the kettle boiled;
Besides, you know, I have to wash and dress the youngest child.

So men, if you would happy be, don't grumble at your wife so;
For no man can imagine what a woman has to do.

I have to shake and make the bed, and sweep the room also,
I have to knit, I have to spin, I have to sit and sew;
Besides, and this you well do know, I always make a rule
To wash and dress the little ones and send them off to school.

So men if you would happy be, don't grumble at your wife so;
But think of your poor mother, how she put up with you.