The Poore Man Pays for All
Sheet music for Treble Clef Instrument

Play (or use space bar on your keyboard) Pause Music reset tempo print settings full screen


The Poore Man Pays for All







The Poore Man Payes for All

As I lay musing all alone
Upon my resting bed,
Full many a cogitation
Did come into my head:
And, waking from my sleepe, I
My dreame to mind did call:
Me thought I saw before mine eyes,
How poore men payes for all.

Me thought I saw how wealthy men
Did grind the poore men's faces,
And greedily did prey on them,
Not pittying their cases:
They make them toyle and labour sore
For wages too-too small;
The rich men in the tavernes rore,
But poore men pay for all.

Me thought I saw an usurer old
Walke in his fox-fur'd gowne,
Whose wealth and eminence controld
The most men in the towne;
His wealth he by extortion got,
And rose by others' fall;
He had what his hands earned not,
But poore men pay for all.

Me thought I saw a courtier proud
Come swaggering along,
That unto any scarce allow'd
The office of his tongue:
Me thought, wert not for bribery,
His peacock's plumes would fall;
He ruffles out in bravery,
But poore men pay for all.

Me thought I was i' th' countrey,
Where poore men take great paines,
And labour hard continually,
Onely for rich men's gaines:
Like th' Israelitcs in Egypt,
The poore are kept in thrall;
The task-masters are playing kept,
But poore men pay for all.

Me thought I saw poore tradesmen,
I' th' city and else-where,
Whom rich men keepe as beads-men,
In bondage, care and feare:
Thei'l have them worke for what they list-
Thus weakest go to the wall:
The rich men eate and drinke the best,
But poore men pay for all.

Me thought I saw two lawyers base
One to another say,
"We have had in hand this poor man's case
A twelvemonth and a day:
And yet wee'l not contented be
To let the matter fall;
Beare thou with me, & Ile beare with thee,
While poore men pay for all.


Me thought I saw a red-nose host,
As fat as he could wallow;
Whose carkasse, if it should be roast,
Would drop seven stone of tallow:
He growes rich out of measure
With filling measure small;
He lives in mirth and pleasure,
But poore men pay for all.

And so likewise the brewer stout,
The chandler and the baker,
The mault-mon also, without doubt,
And the tobacco-taker:
Though they be proud, and stately growne.
And beare themselves so tall ;
Yet to the world it is well knowne
That poore men pay for all.

Even as the mighty fishes still
Doe feed upon the lesse;
So rich men, might they have their will,
Would on the poore men cess:
It is a proverbe old and true-
That weakest goe to th' wall;
Rich men can drink till th' sky looke blue,
But poore men pay for all.

But now, as I before did say,
This is but a dreame indeed;
Though all dreames prove not true, some may
Hap right as I doe reade:
And if that any come to passe,
I doubt this my dreame shall;
For till 'tis found too true a case-
That poore men pay for all.

From A Ballad History of England, Palmer
Printed 1630
Note: Beads-men: suppliants
See also Farmer is the Man, Dodger Song, Hard Times of Old England etc.
RG







Download Score PDF
(8notes Premium)
Sorry, parts requests not available for this piece Why?
No alternative transpositions yet
Sorry, transposition requests not available for this piece Why?
    No midi files available
    Sorry, Individual Midi Files not available for this piece.

About 'The Poore Man Pays for All'

Artist:
Born:
- , -
Died:
- , -
The Artist:
Traditional Music of unknown author.



Close X

Thank you for trying the 8notes.com Audio & Transposition features

You have reached your limit for today.
Join 8notes PREMIUM for unlimited playback & transpositions
Individual Subscriptions:

Click here for more info on 8notes PREMIUM


© 2000-2024 8notes.com