Weary in Virginny, O

Give ear unto a maid that lately was betrayed,
And sent into Virginny, O;
In brief I shall declare what I have suffered here.
When that I was weary, weary, weary, O.

When that first I came to this land of fame,
Which is called Virginny, O.
The axe and the hoe have brought my overthrow.
When that I was weary, etc.

Five years served I under Master Guy,
In the land of Virginny, O.
Which made me for to know sorrow, grief and woe,
When that I was weary, etc.

When my Dame says, "Go," then I must do so,
In the land of Virginny, O.
When she sits at meat, then I have none to eat,
When that I was weary, etc.

The clothes that I brought in, they are worn very thin,
In the land of Virginny, O.
Which makes me for to say, alas and well-a-day,
When that I was weary, etc.

Instead of beds of ease, To lie down when I please,

In the land of Virginny, 0:

Upon a bed of straw,

I lay down full of woe,

When that I was weary, etc.

Then the spider she daily waits on me,
In the land of Virginny, O;

Round about my bed, she spins her tender web,

When that I am weary, etc.

So soon as it is day, to work I must away,
In the land of Virginny, O:
Then my dame she knocks with her tinder-box,
When that I was weary, etc.

I have played my part, both at plow and cart,
In the land of Virginny, O:
Billets from the wood, upon my back they load,
When that I was weary, etc.

Instead of drinking beer, I drink the water clear,
In the land of Virginny, O:
Which makes me pale and wan, do all that e'er I can
When that I was weary, etc.

If my dame says, "Go!" I dare not say no,
In the land of Virginny, O:
The water from the spring, upon my head I bring,
When that I was weary, etc.

When the child doth cry, I must sing, "By a by,"
In the land of Virginny, O.
No rest that I can have, whilst I am here a slave,
When that I was weary, etc.

A thousand woes beside, that I do here abide,
In the land of Virginny, O:
In misery I spend my time that hath no end,
When that I was weary, etc.

Then let maids beware, all by my ill-fare,
In the land of Virginny, O:
Be sure you stay at home, for if you do here come,
You all will be weary, etc.

But if it be my chance, homewards to advance,
From the land of Virginny, O:
If that I once more land on English shore,
I'll no more be weary,
Weary, weary, weary, O.

indentured servants
Printed in Silverman, American History Songbook
SOF