Babies in the Mill

I used to be a factory hand

When things were moving slow

When children worked in cotton mills

Each morning had to go

Every morning just at five

The whistle blew on time

Call them babies out of bed

At the age of eight or nine

Come out of bed, little sleepyhead

Get your bite to eat

The factory whistle's calling you

There's no more time to sleep

The children all grew up unlearned

They never went to school

They never learned to read or write

But learned to spin and spool

Every time I close my eyes

I see that picture still

When textile work was carried out

With babies in the mill

Come out of bed, little sleepyhead

And get your bite to eat

The factory whistle's calling you

There's no more time to sleep

Old timers can't you see that scene

In the years gone by

Babies all worked on the job

Same as you and I

I know you're glad that times have changed

So kids can have some fun

Now men go in and do the jobs

That babies used to run

Come out of bed, little sleepyhead

And get your bite to eat

The factory whistle's calling you

There's no more time to sleep