Tolpuddle Man

Sung by Jerry O’Reilly

1
Farewell to my family, It’s now I must leave you
That far fatal shore, in chains we shall see
Although we are taken, do not be mistaken,
As brothers in union we shall be free

Chorus:

They can bring down our wages, starve all our children
In chains they can bind us, steal all our land
They can mock our religion, from our family divide us
But they can’t break the oath of a Tolpuddle man
2
To those who rule us, we are the dissenters
Do your duty, be thankful, don’t complain, we are told
For God in his wisdom, divided his Kingdom
For few to have much, while so many have nought

Chorus
They can bring down our wages, starve all our children
In chains they can bind us, steal all our land
They can mock our religion, from our family divide us
But they can’t break the oath of a Tolpuddle man
3
As brothers together, with an oath we will bind us
The labouring man, in all England shall rise
Though Frampton has framed us, they never will tame us
Arise men of Britain, we’ll yet win the prize

Chorus:
They can bring down our wages, starve all our children
In chains they can bind us, steal all our land
They can mock our religion, from our family divide us
But they can’t break the oath of a Tolpuddle man
No they can’t break the oath of a Tolpuddle man