The Navvy Boy When I was young and tender I left my native home And often to old Scotland I started out to roam. As I walked down through Bishoptown A-seeking for employ, The ganger he knew by me I was a Navvy Boy. As soon as I did get employ, For Lodgings I did seek; It happened to be that very night With the ganger I did sleep; He had one only daughter And I became her joy, For she longed to go and tramp With her own dear Navvy boy Says the mother to her daughter "I think it very strange, That you would wed a Navvy Boy This wide world for to range; For navvies they are rambling boys And have but little pay; How could a man maintain a wife With fourteen pence a day?" Says the daughter to the mother "You need not run them down; My father was a Navvy Boy When he came to this town; He roamed about from town to town Just seeking for employ; Go where he will, he's my love still He's my own dear Navvy Boy." Now just a short time after this Her father died I'm told, And left unto his daughter Five hundred pounds in gold; And when she got the money, Soon I became her joy, For she longed to go and tramp it With her own dear Navvy Boy. From Songs of the People, Henry Collected from Robert Lyons RG
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