Step in young man, I know your face,
'Tis nothing in your favour.
A little time I'll give to you --
Six months unto hard labour.

(Refrain)
  To my hip fol the day, hip fol the dee;
  To my hip fol the dol, fol the di-gee O.

At six o'clock our turnkey comes in,
With a bunch of keys all in his hand.
"Come come, my lads, step up and grind --
Tread the wheel till breakfast time."

(Refrain)

At eight o'clock our skilly comes in,
Sometimes thick and sometimes thin.
But the devil of a word we must not say --
It's bread and water all next day.

(Refrain)

At half-past eight the bell doth ring,
Unto the chapel we must swing.
Onto our bended knees must fall --
Lord have mercy on us all.

(Refrain)

At nine o'clock our bell doth ring,
All on the trap, boys, we must swing.
"Come pray, my lads, to be in time --
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind."

(Refrain)

Now Saturday is come, I am sorry to say,
Sunday is our starvation day.
Our jackboots and our goglets too --
They are not ready nor they will not do.

(Refrain)

Now six long months are over and past,
I'll return to my bonny, bonny lass.
I'll leave the turnkeys all behind --
The wheel to tread and the corn to grind.

(Refrain)