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The Charity Seed (Never Died in Winter Yet) 
The Charity Seed (Never Died in Winter Yet) 
To Strabane last Thursday I was walking And quite early in the day, I overheard two neighbours talking Just before me on the way; On the times they were- discussing, Wealthy people and their greed, Farmers that had full and plenty, All applying for the charity seed. 
cho: There's lots of food and prospects good, Plenty of crops, my boys , don't fret, Providence provides for all, We never died in winter yet. 
The people say near Ballintra, When times were good, Richmond proved their cause; Walter Black, the people say, Got more than a strong horse could draw. He got a ton of good potatoes, And for them he had no need, Believe me now, it's true you'll find, You'll see a row about the seed. 
Great distress was in the west, Disraeli got a dreadful scare, The land of Connaught, depend upon it, It was near to be civil war; Gladstone now will quell the row And I hope next year there will be no need; Believe me now, it's true you'll find You'll see a row about the seed. 
Now and then you will find men If the land was full from north to south And a double price for their produce That poverty's still in their mouth. 
From Songs of the People, Henry