The Charity Seed (Never Died in Winter Yet)

To Strabane last Thursday I was walking
And quite early in the day,
I overheard two neighbours talking
Just before me on the way;
On the times they were- discussing,
Wealthy people and their greed,
Farmers that had full and plenty,
All applying for the charity seed.

cho: There's lots of food and prospects good,
Plenty of crops, my boys , don't fret,
Providence provides for all,
We never died in winter yet.

The people say near Ballintra,
When times were good, Richmond proved their cause;
Walter Black, the people say,
Got more than a strong horse could draw.
He got a ton of good potatoes,
And for them he had no need,
Believe me now, it's true you'll find,
You'll see a row about the seed.

Great distress was in the west,
Disraeli got a dreadful scare,
The land of Connaught, depend upon it,
It was near to be civil war;
Gladstone now will quell the row
And I hope next year there will be no need;
Believe me now, it's true you'll find
You'll see a row about the seed.

Now and then you will find men
If the land was full from north to south
And a double price for their produce
That poverty's still in their mouth.

From Songs of the People, Henry
RG