While the Iron Is Hot

All our life being not as it should be

For the poor man works to pay

For the pastimes of the rich man

We resolve to find another way

Now they call us the Tolpuddle Martyrs

We came to make the union strong

So they sent us off to Australia

But we were not parted from you long

Looking back through the lives of my fathers

For their memories with me still

I think it was in 1819

They broke those shields at Foster's Mill

And we said in the May of twenty-six

As we left the lifting cage

We will not work for you again, sir

'Till you pay us all a living wage

So they call us the Tolpuddle Martyrs

We came to make the union strong

Though they sent us off to Australia

We were not parted from you long

We were young in the May of twenty-six

And we got our living wage

But those who broke the shields at Foster's

Have not passed their old retiring age

I think it was in 1819

They broke those shields at Foster's Mill

All our life being not as it should be

For the poor man works to pay

For the pastimes of the rich man

We resolve to find another way