Gaol Song

Lyrics

[Verse 1] 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 [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o [Verse 2] At six o'clock our gaoler comes in With a bunch of keys all in his hand Come my lads, step up and grind Tread that wheel till breakfast time [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o [Verse 3] At eight o'clock our skilly comes in It's sometimes thick and it's sometimеs thin Devil of a word we must not say Or it's bread and watеr all next day [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o [Verse 4] At half past eight the bell does ring Into the chapel we must swing Down on bended knees to fall O Lord have mercy on us all [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o [Instrumental Break] [Verse 5] Oh, at nine o'clock the jangle rings All on the trap, boys, we must spring Come my lads, step up in time The wheel to tread and the corn to grind [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o [Verse 6] Saturday's come I'm sorry to say And Sunday's our starvation day Our hobnail boots, tin mugs too They are not shined, they will not do [Bridge] When six long months are over and past I will return to my bonny lass I'll leave the gaolers all behind The wheel to tread and the corn to grind [Chorus] To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip, to me hip To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip, to me hip To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o To me hip fol the day, hip fol the day To me hip fol the day fol the digee-o