[5]
Although the fame to them belong'd,
when my old hat was new.
And when the time of harveſt came,
that we went out to ſhear,
Sometimes we were fu' hearty made,
with brandy, ale and beer:
And when the corn was all led in,
and built into a mow,
The ſhearers got a ranting kirn,
when my old hat was new.
But inſtead of a good hot ſupper,
we us'd to get before,
They give to us our portion,
like beggars at the door:
Unto their houſes we may not come,
though we were ne'er ſo few,
Where we us’d to drink & dance a' night,
when my old hat was new.
Every one their ſpring did chuſe,
according to their mind,
And a' the night we kiſs'd and danc'd,
and O but we were kind,
The hindmoſt, oft, was foremoſt then,
ſo danc'd this jovial crew,
This was good ſport and merriment,
when my old hat was new.
And when we to the church did go,
to hear the goſpel preach'd,
Our miniſters with ſermons fine,
their hearers there they teach'd.
