Aw’m as rich as a Jew, tho aw hav’nt a meg,
But aw’m free as a burd, an’ aw shak a loise leg;
Aw’ve noa haase, an’ noa barns, soa aw niver pay rent,
But still aw feel rich, for aw’m bless’d wi content,
Aw live, an’ aw’m jolly,
An’ if it is folly,
Let others be wise, but aw’l follow mi bent.
Mi kitchen aw find amang th’ rocks up o’th’ moor,
An’ at neet under th’ edge ov a haystack aw snoor,
An’ a wide spreeadin branch keeps th’ cold rain off mi nop,
Wol aw listen to th’ stormcock ‘at pipes up o’th top;
Aw live, an’ aw’m jolly, &c.
Aw niver fear thieves, for aw’ve nowt they can tak,
Unless it’s thease tatters’ at hing o’ mi back;
An’ if they prig them, they’lt get suck’d do yo see,
They’ll be noa use to them, for they’re little to me,
Aw live, an’ aw’m jolly, &c.
Fowk may turn up ther nooas as they pass me i’th’ road,
An’ get aght o’th’ gate as if feear’d ov a tooad,
But aw laff i’ mi sleeve, like a snail in its shell,
For th’ less room they tak up, ther’s all th’ moor for misel,
Aw live, an’ aw’m jolly, &c.
Tho philosiphers tawk, an’ church parsons may praich,
An’ tell us true joy is far aght ov us raich;
Yet aw niver tak heed o’ ther cant o’ ther noise,
For he’s nowt to be fear’d on ‘at’s nowt he can loise,
Aw live, an’ aw’m jolly, &c.
(John Hartley)
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