{"id":2124,"date":"2020-04-15T13:26:58","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T13:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/?page_id=2124"},"modified":"2024-04-17T14:26:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T14:26:40","slug":"work-boys-work-and-be-contented","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/folksongandmusichall.com\/index.php\/work-boys-work-and-be-contented\/","title":{"rendered":"Work boys work and be contented"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
AKA<\/strong><\/td>Put your shoulder to the wheel<\/td><\/tr>
First published<\/td>1866<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Lyrics<\/strong><\/td>Harry Clifton<\/td>Music<\/strong><\/td>Harry Clifton \/ Root <\/td>Roud<\/strong><\/td>23589<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Music Hall performers<\/strong><\/td>Harry Clifton, Fred French, Harry Champion <\/td><\/tr>
Folk performances<\/strong><\/td>Collected from the singing of:<\/strong>
Desmond Price, Warwickshire, England 1967
Jack Mooney, Newfoundland, 1975<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
I'm not a wealthy man, but I've hit upon a plan\nThat will render me as happy as a King\nAnd if you will allow me I'll tell it to you now\nFor time you know is always on the wing\nWork boys work and be contented\nAs long as you've enough to buy a meal\nThe man you may rely, will be wealthy by and bye\nIf he'll only put his shoulder to the wheel.\n\nSo Work boys work and be contented\nAs long as you've enough to buy a meal\nThe man you may rely, will be wealthy by and bye\nIf he'll only put his shoulder to the wheel.<\/em>\n\nWill fretting make you fat? No, there's nothing gained by that\nAssist yourselves and fortune will help you\nTears are only vain, if defeated try again\nYou'll find it all the better if you do.\n\nDiscontented people say, all work and little play\nWill make a boy a blockhead as a rule\nYou can answer them and say\n'Never work and always play'\nWill make them both a blockhead and a fool.\n\nYou'll enjoy a quiet crust more by rubbing off the rust\nIt's a maxim that should never be forgot\nWhilst labour leads to wealth\nAnd will keep you in good health\nSo it's best to be contented with your lot.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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Another of Harry Clifton’s motto songs,  discussed on the Harry Clifton page<\/a>. This one appears to have first been published in 1866 –  the earliest mention I can find is a notice in The Era<\/em> on 01 Jul 1866. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clifton often published songs claiming to have composed the music, but borrowed the tune from elsewhere, in this case it was from GF Root’s American Civil War Song: Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching.<\/em>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This song is confusingly sometimes referred to as Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel<\/em>, a title which also is sometimes given to Clifton’s A Motto for Every Man<\/a> . There’s also at least one 19th century hymn <\/a>with the same title!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 Work Boys Work <\/em>was also sung by Clifton’s contemporary Fred French<\/a>, who seems to have impressed the correspondent of the Illustrated Sporting News<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Gatti’s Music Hall, <\/em>Illustrated Sporting News, 25 Aug 1866<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song was revived with new verses by Harry Champion<\/a> in World War 1 , under the  title Work Boys Work<\/em> (see video below)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a  Newfoundland version sung by Eugene Mooney, who  learnt the song from his father John:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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