Polly

Polly, Polly, listen to me
The gallows of Worcester are beckoning to me
I went to the master to seek charity
It'll end on a rope in the morning

Polly, Polly, don't think me so bad
A man couldn't walk in the boots that I had
Our children were starving I pleaded but he'll
See it end on a rope in the morning

Chorus
How can a poor man survive with a family
One couldn't eat on the money they pay
Though I'm to hang, Polly, don't think so bad of me
Laws were not written for folk such as we

When he'd refused me and shown me the door
I waited in shadows to collect for the poor
I won't see our children
Roll in pain on the floor
I'll just take what I need for the morning

So I opened a window in the still of the night
And I took from him all that I thought was a man's right
Some boots for the walk a coat to keep warm
And some bacon to feed to the children
But they knew by the morning that I was the thief
So I hid for a while with some friends out at Blackheath
But I learned that the children to the workhouse were sent
And I had to break cover to see them

Polly, Polly, listen to me
When I went to the children the constables caught me
They tried me at Worcester for stealing them boots
It'll end on a rope in the morning

© John Richards

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