Over the Hills to the Poor House

Oh how can it be they have drive
Their father so helpless and old
Oh God may their crimes be forgiven
To perish out here in the cold
Oh heaven I'm sad and I'm weary
See the tears how they course down my cheek
This world is so lonely and weary
My heart for relief plainly seeks
I'm old I'm helpless and feeble
And the days of my youth have gone by
And it's over the hill to the poor house
I must wander alone there to die

Long years since Mary was taken
My faithful affectionate wife
Since then I've been alone and forsaken
The light has died out of my life
Oh me on the doorstep up yonder
I've set with my babe's on my knee
No father was happy or fonder
Than I of my little ones three
The boys were so rosy and cheerful
and Lily with chatter so sweet
God knows how their father has loved them
But they've driven him out on the street
I gave them the place where I lived on
A deed to the farm and more
I gave them the house they were borned in
And now I am turned from its door