LYRICS:

In good old Queen Victoria’s day, industrial revolution

Meant bosses said please, we need more employees. We needed a solution.

Who will climb our chimneys? Who will power our grids?

Victorian families so desperately poor they’ll let us employ their kids for...

 

Work, terrible work! From very young ages

Up chimneys to clean. Paid pitiful wages

Work, terrible work! Pins make you work faster

If we grow too big, get sacked by the master.

 

Now you’re all in my employ, cleaning in the factory

We’re not very strong and the hours are long - this work is unsatisfactory.

Dare not to get caught in spokes or trap our hands in gauges.

To stop machines and get you out will cost you a week’s wages.

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Work, terrible work! There’s no health and safety

So if we get hurt they will just replace me

Work, terrible work...

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Now that I am short of cash I have to pick pockets

Wallets from gentlemen and lady’s lockets.

Small enough to get away, hardly ever caught

And if we are, we’re kids you see, to cry is what we’re taught (Boo hoo).

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Work, terrible work! Dangerous and demeaning

No time to complain - get back to your cleaning.

Work, terrible work! Guess what we are dreaming...

School, glorious school, wonderful school, marvellous school

Wish we went to school!