While The Iron Is Hot

All our life being not as it should be
For the poor man works to pay
For the pastimes of the rich man
We resolve to find another way

Now they call us the Tolpuddle Martyrs
We came to make the union strong
So they sent us off to Australia
But we were not parted from you long

Looking back through the lives of my fathers
For their memories with me still
I think it was in 1819
They broke those shields at Foster's Mill

And we said in the May of twenty-six
As we left the lifting cagе
We will not work for you again, sir
'Till you pay us all a living wage

So they call us thе Tolpuddle Martyrs
We came to make the union strong
Though they sent us off to Australia
We were not parted from you long

We were young in the May of twenty-six
And we got our living wage
But those who broke the shields at Foster's
Have not passed their old retiring age

I think it was in 1819
They broke those shields at Foster's Mill

All our life being not as it should be
For the poor man works to pay
For the pastimes of the rich man
We resolve to find another way