Provisions are now twice as dear
When this old hat was new
Oh, what a happy youth was I
When this old hat was new
When this old hat was new
But fourscore a year ago,
they thought it very fair
No oath they did require,
men's words they were so true
Was bustle in my youthful days,
when this old hat was new,
when this old hat was new
And when the harvest came,
How often we were merry made,
with brandy, ale and beer
When corn it was brought home,
When this old hat was anew,
When this old hat was anew.
At the board's head stood
And greeted all as they came in,
Each took his proper place.
His wife stood at the table
To give each man his due,
And though a plenty did abound,
when this old hat was new,
when this old hat was new.
But how the times are changed,
the poor are quite done o 'er
They give to them their wages
In the house we must not go,
It was not so when be st did reign,
and this old hat was new.
Bol has got no wool to spin
She's cold and clothing's thin
When this old hat was new
When this old hat was new
When Ro mans ruled this land,
the commons they did give
Unto the poor in charity,
The poor are quite done off,
It was not so when best did rain,
And this old hat was new.
And this old hat was new.