Motto for everyman, A

AKA	Put your shoulder to the wheel
First Published	1865

Lyrics

Harry Clifton

Music

Charles Coote

Roud

RN9079

Some people you've met in your time no doubt
Who never look happy or gay
I'll tell you the way to get jolly and stout
If you'll listen a while to my lay
I've come here to tell you a bit of my mind
And please with the same if I can
Advice in my song you will certainly find
And a motto for every man.

So we will sing and banish melancholy
Trouble may come; we'll do the best we can
To drive care away, for grieving is a folly
Put your shoulder to the wheel is a motto for every man.

We cannot all fight in this 'battle of life'
The weak must go to the wall
So do to each other the thing that is right
For there's room in this world for us all
'Credit refuse' if you've 'money to pay'
You'll find it the wiser plan
'And a penny lay by for a rainy day'
Is a motto for every man.

A coward gives in at the first repulse
A brave man struggles again
With a resolute eye and a bounding pulse
To battle his way amongst men
For he knows he has one chance in his time
To better himself if he can
'So make your hay while the sun doth shine'
That's a motto for every man.

Economy study but don't be mean
A penny may lose a pound
Thro' this world a conscience clean
Will carry you safe and sound
It's all very well to be free I will own
To do a good turn when you can
But Charity always commences at home'
That's a motto for every man.

Another of Harry Clifton’s motto songs, found in a range of 19th-century broadsides and songbooks on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s been collected from the singing of several traditional singers, but I am not aware of it featuring in the repertoire of late 20th or 21st century folk singers, though popular entertainer, Stanley Holloway recorded it.

The earliest reference I can find suggests the song was first published by Hopwood and Crew in 1865 and there are subsequently numerous reports of the song being sung by amateurs in the British Isles and America.

This song is confusingly sometimes referred to as Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel, a title which is also sometimes used for a different Clifton song Work boys work and be contented.

As sung by Stanley Holloway:

Sources:

• Lyrics: monologues.co.uk
• Kilgarriff Sing us
• Sheet Music from Levy collection (1868)
• Sheet Music: from University of Michigan (1868)

Last Updated on March 15, 2023 by John Baxter | Published: April 21, 2020