Treadmill Song - Steeleye Span

Step in young man, I know your face

It’s nothing in your favor

A little time I’ll give to you

Six months unto hard labor

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

At six o’clock the screw comes in

A bunch of keys all in his hand

Step up my lads, step up in time

And tread the wheel 'til breakfast time

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

And at eight o’clock the skilly comes in

It’s sometimes thick and it’s sometimes thin

And never a word dare we all say

Or it’s bread and water all next day

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

At half past eight the bell do ring

And off to the chapel boys we must swing

Down on our bended knees we fall

The Lord have mercy on us all

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

And at nine o’clock the jangle ring

And all on the trap boys we must spring

Step up my lads, step up in time

The wheel’s to tread and the corn’s to grind

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

Now Saturday’s come I am sorry to say

For Sunday is starvation day

Our hob-nail boots and our tin mugs too

They are not shined and they will not do

With me hip, fol the day, me hip, fol the day

Me hip, fol the day, fol the digee, oh

When six long months are gone and past

Then I’ll return to my bonny, bonny lass

I’ll leave the turnkeys all behind

The wheel to tread and the corn to grind