“Poverty Knock” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Poverty Knock” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Chumbawamba.
Lyrics: Tom Daniel.
Tune: Tom Daniel.
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
Up every morning at five. I wonder that we keep alive.
Tired and yawning, another cold morning, it’s back to the dreary, old drive.
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
Oh dear, we’re going to be late. Gaffer is stood at the gate.
We’re out of pocket. Our wages, they’ll dock it. We’ll have to buy grub on the slate.
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
And when our wages they’ll bring, we’re often short of a string.
While we are fighting with gaffer for snatching, we know to his breast he will cling.
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
Sometimes a shuttle flies out and gives some poor women a clout.
There she lies bleeding, but nobody’s heeding. Oh, who’s going to carry her out?
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
Oh dear, my poor head, it sings, “I should have woven three strings.”
My threads are breaking, and my back is aching. Oh dear, how I wish I had wings!
Poverty, poverty knock, my loom is a-saying all day.
Poverty, poverty knock, gaffer’s too skinny to pay.
Poverty, poverty knock, keeping one eye on the clock.
I know I can guttle when I hear my shuttle go
Poverty, poverty knock.
Poverty, poverty knock. Poverty, poverty knock.
Poverty, poverty knock. Poverty, poverty knock.
Poverty, poverty knock. Poverty, poverty knock.
Poverty, poverty knock. Poverty, poverty knock.