Natalie Merchant - Owensboro lyrics

Well, I lived in a town Way down south By the name of Owensboro And I worked in a mill With the rest of the "trash" As we're often called As you know Well, we rise up early In the morning And we work all day real hard To buy our little meat and bread Buy sugar, tea, and lard Well, our children Grow up unlearned With no time to go to school Almost before they learn to walk They learn to spin and spoon Well, the folks in town They dress so fine And spend their money free But they would hardly look At a factory hand Who dresses like you or me Would you let them wear Their watches fine Let them wear their gems And pearly strings But when that day Of judgement comes They'll have to share Their pretty things