The Digging Song

Give me the spade of freedom's glory
It sowed the fields with the hard-worked moor
Spoke of its praise in tales and stories
Dig for the treasure in the French field more

Sing to the trees with the wild beasts yelling
And the stout-hearted brothers strike back afraid
Cornstack raised and man finds a dwelling
Dig is a friend, boys, dig with the spade

Give me the spade or a man who can use it
Dig every day as a freeborn man
That other man never stoop or abuse it
Dig, sow, borrow, boys, all for the land
Give up the sword that won the battles
That gave the kingdom to the bold and the brave
Give to our wives and give to the children
The king of weapons is the humble spade

Sing to the trees with the wild beasts yelling
And the stout-hearted brothers strike back afraid
Cornstack raised and man finds a dwelling
Dig is a friend, boys, dig with the spade

Give me the spade or a man who can use it
Dig every day as a freeborn man
That other man never stoop or abuse it
Dig, sow, borrow, boys, all for the land

Give me the spade, there's a secret about it
From coal-black soil to bright burning gold
What would our fathers have done now without it?
When lands lay bare and winds blew cold

Sing to the trees with the wild beasts yelling
And the stout-hearted brothers strike back afraid
Cornstack raised and man finds a dwelling
Dig is a friend, boys, dig with the spade

Give me the spade or a man who can use it
Dig every day as a freeborn man
That other man never stoop or abuse it
Dig, sow, borrow, boys, all for the land