The Old Mans Sayings
Concerning the Alteration of the Times.
Being an account of an antient Man of Fourscore and ten Years of age, that gave this
relation to a friend, of the difference of the times since his remembrance, and desired
that it might be Printed for the satisfaction of all people.
Tune is, The two English Travellers. This may be Printed, R. P.
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WHen I was a Young-man,
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as some of you be,
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Brave flourishing days
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in the Land I did see,
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But now the times altered,
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my neighbour and friend,
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Which is now the reason
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these Lines I have penn'd,
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For Men to turn Anticks,
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is counted a toy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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Men was not so wicked
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then in all their ways,
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For they lov'd one another
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then in the Old Days,
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Rich men they scorned
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then to wrong the poor,
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But rather was willing,
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to increase their store,
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But now Pride and envy,
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it is all their joy,
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But the times they were better
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when I was a Boy.
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Trading was quicker,
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and money was free,
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And neighbours in e'ry town,
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liv'd lovingly,
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But now they had rather
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to scold and to brawl,
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And doth not seem willing,
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upon God to call;
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For baseness and wickedness,
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is now their joy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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Poor Trades-men liv'd better
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far, then now they do,
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Where they have a Shilling now,
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then they had two,
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But now times are alter'd,
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since Money grew scant,
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They hardly can get enough,
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to pay their rent:
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For Landlords their Tennants,
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do sorely annoy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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Hatred and malice then
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was not so rife,
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Nor Lawyers so Fed,
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for to end a great strife:
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For brotherly Love,
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did in most men remain,
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But now all such doings,
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is held in disdain,
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To undoe one another,
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they make it their joy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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Of Gods Commandements,
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Men stood in fear,
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And loved the King
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and their Country so dear,
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Men was not so treacherous
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in all their ways,
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There was no such Rebels,
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as is nowadays,
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For to practice all goodness,
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they made it their joy,
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For the times, etc-
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All wicked actions
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men seemed to hate,
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Which will be too tedious
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for me to relate:
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As Whoredom and Drunkenness,
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was not so rife,
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For most Men in those days,
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liv'd a civil life:
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But now such debaucherous
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tricks is their joy,
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But the times, etc.
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Then Husband and Wife,
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they injoyed their peace,
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And God gave a blessing
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unto their increase;
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Then Children were dutiful,
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now they'r not so,
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For they learn to swear
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when they newly can go:
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And the Parents that hear them,
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count it but a toy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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Men were not so fickle
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to turn with the wind,
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To laugh in your face,
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and kill you behind;
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For truly the times
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they are altered so,
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'Tis a hard thing to know a
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mans friend from his foe:
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For flattery and falshood
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is many a Mans joy,
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But the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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And so for conclusion,
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I now make an end,
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And hope that this Song,
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will no person offend,
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But say what you will
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the truth is the truth,
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There was better living
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when I was a Youth;
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Then to love one another,
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let's make it our joy,
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For the times they were better,
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when I was a Boy.
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FINIS.
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