Jail 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 at hard labour"

With me whip the day, whip for the day
Whip for the day-o

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

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

At nine o'clock the jangle rings
All on the trap boys, we must spring
"Come, come, my lads, step up in time
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind"

Now Saturday's come, I'm sorry to say
Sunday is our starvation day
Our hobnailed boots and tin mugs too
They are not shined nor will they do

Now six long months are over and past
I will return to my bonnie lass
I'll leave the turnkeys all behind
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind