The Lads of Virginia

Come all you young fellows wherever you be,
Come listen awhile and I?ll tell ye,
Concerning they hardships that we undergo,
When we get lag?d to Virginia.
Such clever young felloes myself I have seen
That is more fitting to serve George our King
Those hard hearted judges so cruel have been,
To lag us poor lads to Virginia.
When I was an apprentice in fair London town,
Many hours serv?d duly and truly,
Till those buxom young ladies led me astray
My work I neglected more and more every day,
And for to maintain it went on the highway
By that I got lag?s to Virginia.
When we came to Virginia that old ancient town.
The place that is so much admired,
Where the captain he stand with the cane in his hand,
With our aching hearts before him doth stand.
With the tears in out eyes in a foreign land,
Was sold for a slave in Virginia.
When I was in England I could live at my ea(f)se,
Rest my bones down on soft feathers,
With a jug in my hand & a lass on my knee
I thought myself fit for all weathers,
But now in Virginia I lay like a dog,
Our pillows at night is a brink or a log,
We dress and undress like some other sea hog
How hard is out fate in Virginia.
Old England, Old England I shall ne?er see more,
If I do it?s ten thousand to twenty,
My bones are quite rotten my feet is quite sore,
I?m parch?d with the fever and am at death?s door,
But if ever I live to see seven years more
Then I?ll bid adieu to Virginia.

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