To be sure

Thomas Hudson's 6th Collection of Comic Songs p11, 1824 

(Written for Mr. Sherwin, of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.)
Tune — Derry Down

WHEN I wur at whoam I wur in a sad plight,
A doing o'summat fra' morning to night:
I hoped such a life 'could not always endure, 
Ther wur nothin' but work, work, work, work, to be sure. 

One morning it hap'd I wur making o'hay,
I spied Mary Rosebud a coming that way:
"Here, Ralph!" she cried out, I quickly ran to her.
"Help me over the stile;" oh, says I, "To be sure"

I lifted her over, and then felt all o'er,
A sort of a somehow, I ne'er felt before;
So I said as I got myself closer up to her,
"Mary, you'll grant me one kiss, to be sure?"

Says I, when I'd gin her one sweet melting smack,
"If you don't like it, why give it me back:
Said she, "Mr. Ralph," and she look'd so demure,
"What makes you so imp'runt? "Why, love, to be sure"

Says I, "Will you marry?" while down her head hung,
She answer'd "Why, Ralph, we're both of us too young;
And if we wur married, we'd always be poor",
"And - we might - ha' some - children", says I "To be sure"

"I have saved up three pounds, says I, safe in a purse,
So let us get married for better, for worse;
'Twill happiness bring to us both quite secure";
"But d'ye think we shall do?" "Lord!" says I, "To be sure"

Her kisses so sweet did the minutes beguile'
When who but old master should come o'er the stile:
Says he, "Master Ralph, dost thee think I'll endure?
"Do you call this working?" says I, "To be sure!"
 
Says he, "Now I'll just tell ye what, Master Ralph,
"You're getting too lazy and saucy by half;
"You don't do no work — you're as thin as a skewer,
"But ye feeds nation well!" "Yes" says I, "To be sure!"

One word brought another — he got in a rage,
Discharged me at once, but first paid me my wage :
I've gotten a good place, no longer I'm poor,
"I'll marry sweet Mary - I will, "To be sure!"