Gaol Song

Step in young man, I know your face
It's nothing in your favour
A little time I'll give to you
Six months unto hard labour

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

At six o'clock our turnkey comes
With a bunch of keys all in his hand
Come, my lads, step up and grind
And tread the wheel till breakfast time

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

At eight o'clock our skilly comes in
Sometimes thick and sometimes thin
But a devil a word we must not say
Or it's bread and water all next day

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

At half past eight the bell doth ring
Into the chapel we must swing
Down on our bended knees to fall
The Lord have mercy on us all

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

At nine o'clock our jangle rings
Unto the trap boys we must swing
Come, my lads, and step in time
The wheel to tread, the corn to grind

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

Now Saturday's come, I'm sorry to say
And Sunday's our starvation day
Our hobnail boots, our tin mugs too
They are not shined, they will not do

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh

Now six months longer over and past
And I will return to my bonny lass
I'll leave the turnkey far behind
The wheel to tread, the corn to grind

Hip fol the day
Hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh
With my hip fol the day
With my hip fol the day fol the digee-oh