Coffee An' (Lyrics)

Coffee An' was originally written by Joe Hill in 1912. Naturally after a century some of the meaning of the words used in the song have changed. So, I figured; might as well post the lyrics I sing, for others wanting to sing the songs of Joe Hill.

1 Well, An employment shark I went to see,
He said come in and buy a job from me,
just a couple dollars for the office fee,
the pay is steady and the fare is free.

Chorus:

Count your pennies, count them one by one,
Then you plainly see how you are done.
Count your pennies, take them by your hand,
Spend them all to get your coffee an’.

2 Well I worked and slept in some lousy bunks,
And the grub it stunk like some forty skunks,
When I slaved a week the boss did say,
you are fired, go collect your pay.

Chorus

3 When the clerk commenced to count, Oh holy gee!
Road, and school and poll tax and the hospital fee,
Then I fainted, and I nearly lost my sense,
When the clerk he said: “You owe fifty cents”.

Chorus

4 When I got back to town with blistered feet,
There I heard a fellow speaking on the street.
And he said: “It is the workers’ own mistake.
If they stick together they'll get all they make.”

Chorus

5 And he said: “Come in and join our union grand.
Who will be a member of this fighting band?”
“Write me out a card,” says I, “By Gee!
The Industrial worker is the pal for me!

FINAL CHORUS:

Count your workers, count them, count them one by one,
Join our union and we’ll show you how it’s done.
Stand together, workers, hand in hand,
Then you won’t have to live on coffee an’.”