The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 42

What will become of England? — A New Song

What will become of England?

A New Song

Old England's in a dreadful state,
Wherever we may go;
Thousands of honest working men,
Are brought to grief and woe.
There never was such sad distress,
In England before;
Th'en why should not the rich begin
To help the starving poor.

Chorus.
What will become of England,
If things go on this way?
Thousands of honest working men
Are starving day by day!
They cannot get employment,
For bread their children crave;
And hundreds they have died of want
And now lie in the grave.

In many a humble dwelling,
Distress does now prevail,
For there's many a family starving,
In England and Wales!
In a land where there is plenty,
Of wealth and golden store;
I think it's time there's something done,
To help the starving poor.

We read that the Welsh miners,
Are in a dreadful state;
No food or clothing scarce have they,
No fire within their grates.
And many hundred families,
To the workhouse they have gone;
For shelter for their little ones,
From this cold winter storm.

Some have money plenty,
And still they crave for more;
And will not lend a helping hand,
To assist the starving poor.
They pass him by just like a dog,
And on him cast a frown;
And that's the way the working men
Of England are kept down.

There's great distress in Lancashire,
For many miles around;
The masters have done all they can,
To crush them to the ground!
Their money is so powerful,
That it destruction buys;
Thank God! it cannot purchase life,
Or none but poor would die!

Let us hope our rulers will
Assist the starving poor;
And set the wheel of trade in motion,
Which has been done before.
There is plenty of land in England,
Preserved for the game;
And if they would cultivate it,
The trade would mend again.