Testimony Of Patience Kershaw

Its good of you to ask me, sir

To tell you how I spend my days

Down in a cold black tunnel, sir

I hurry corves to earn my pay

The corves are full of coal, kind sir

I push them with my hands and head

It isn't lady like but sir

You've got to earn your daily bread

I push them with my hands and head

And so my hair gets worn away

See this baldy patch I've got

It shames me like I just can't say

A lady's hands are lily white

But mine are full of cuts and segs

And since I'm pushing all the time

I've great big muscles on my legs

I try to be respectable

But sir, the shame, God save my soul

I work with naked sweating men

Who curse and swear and hew the coal

The sights, the sounds, the smells, kind sir

Not even God could know my shame

I say my prayers, but what's the use

Tomorrow will be just the same

Now sometimes, sir, I don't feel well

My stomach's sick, my head it aches

I've got to hurry best I can

My knees are weak, my back near breaks

And then I'm slow and then I'm scared

These naked men will batter me

But they're not to blame for if I'm slow

Their families will starve, you see

Now all the lads they laugh at me

And sir, the mirror tells me why

Pale and dirty can't look nice

It doesn't matter how I try

Great big muscles on my legs

A baldy patch upon my head

A lady, sir? Oh no, not me

I should have been a boy instead

I praise your good intentions, sir

I love your kind and gentle heart

But now it's 1842

And you and I, we're miles apart

A hundred years and more will pass

Until we're standing side by side

But please accept my grateful thanks

God bless you, sir, at least you tried