It's good of you to ask me Sir to tell you how I spend the day

Well in a coal 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

You 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 smells the sounds kind Sir not even God could sense 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 feel weak my back near breaks

And then I'm slow and then I'm scared these naked men will batter me

They can't be blamed but if I'm slow their families will starve you see

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 me we're miles apart

A hundred years and more will pass before we're walking side by side

But please accept my grateful thanks God bless you Sir at least you tried