Treadmill Song Lyrics

“step in, young man, I know your face,
It's nothing in your favour.
A little time i'll give to you:
Six months unto hard labour.”

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

At six o'clock the screw comes in,
A bunch of keys all in his hand,
Step up, my lads, step up in time,
And tread the wheel till breakfast time.

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

And at eight o'clock the skilly comes in,
It's sometimes thick and it's sometimes thin,
And never a word dare we all say,
Or it's bread and water all next day.

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

At half past eight the bell do ring,
And off to the chapel, boys, we must swing.
“down on our bended knees we fall,
The lord have mercy on us all.”

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

And at nine o'clock the jangle ring
And all on the trap, boys, we must spring.
“step up, my lads, step up in time,
The wheel's to tread and the corn's to grind.”

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

Now saturday's come, I am sorry to say,
For sunday is starvation day.
Our hobnail boots and our tin mugs too,
They are not shined and they will not do.

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!

When six long months are gone and past,
Then i'll return to my bonny, bonny lass.
I'll leave the turnkeys all behind,
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind.

With me hip! fol the day, me hip! fol the day,
Me hip! fol the day, fol the digee, oh!