The Lamentation of The Sailor?s and Soldier?s Wives for the Loss of their Husbands

Good people all pray give attention,
Listen to what I do lay down.
Here the complaint of wives and mothers,
Most complaint in ever town:
Husbands they are gone for Soldiers,
?Tis the truth you really know,
Heavens protect them on their journey,
To conquer France their daring foe.

Many wives they?ve left behind them,
Full of grief in every town,
While they are gone to defend the nation,
And fighting for King George?s Crown;
Children prattling to their mamma?s,
When will my daddy come they cry,
Which set the melting tears a flowing,
From each tender mother?s eye.

Poor wives they think a month more longer,
Than they us?d to think a year,
Because they?ve lost husbands and fathers,
And can?t their pretty children rear;
If they ask relief, the parish grumble,
It is the truth you really know
When they can?t keep a house any longer,
Then to the Workhouse they must go.

Pretty maids are left complaining,
For the loss of their sweethearts,
It?s honor call?s them all to glory,
And makes so many for to part;
But if please God to spare our lives,
Until they do return again,
Each loving wife will meet their husband,
And pretty maids they comely swains.

So to conclude and make an end,
Of what I have told you here before,
I hope the rich will consider,
And take compassion on the poor;
If they do so, God will reward them,
And take them for his Heavenly guests,
For relieving sailors? fatherless children,
And soldiers? wives in their distress.