Bosses: In good old Queen Victoria’s day

Industrial revolution

Meant bosses said ‘Please, we need more employees’

We needed a solution

Who will climb our chimneys?

Who will power our grids?

Victorian families so desperately poor

They’ll let us employ their kids for

Children: Work, terrible work

Bosses: From very young ages

Children: Up chimneys to clean

Bosses: Paid pitiful wages

Children: Work, terrible work

Bosses: Pins make you work faster

Children: If we grow too big

Get sacked by the master!

Bosses: Now you’re all in my employ

Cleaning in the factory

Children: We’re not very strong

 And the hours are long

Bosses: This work is unsatisfactory!

Children: Learn not to get caught in spokes

Or trap our hands in gages

Bosses: To stop machines & get you out

Will cost you a week’s wages! (Children gasp)

Children: Work, terrible work

Bosses:There’s no health or safety

Children: So if we get hurt

They will just replace me

Work, terrible work

(Sorry! *whistle*)

Now that I am short of cash

I have to pickpockets

Wallets from gentlemen

And lady’s lockets

Small enough to get away

Hardly ever caught

And if we are, we’re kids you see

To cry is what we’re taught (Boo-hoo!)

Children:  Work, terrible work

Bosses: Dangerous & demeaning

Children: No time to complain

Bosses: Get back to your cleaning

Children: Work, terrible work

Guess what we are dreaming

School, glorious school!

Wonderful school!

Marvelous school!

Wish we went to school