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I'll sing you a song of the world and its ways,
And the many strange people you meet;
From the rich man that rolls in his millions of wealth,
To a poor struggling wretch on the street.
Though a man may be born in tatters and rags,
No matter what venture he tries;
But when death in the end calls them all to their grave,
Six feet of earth makes them both of one size.
There's many a coat that is ragged and torn,
But beneath lies a true honest heart;
And because he's not dressed like his neighbour, in silk,
Why, society keeps them apart.
On one, fortune smiles, the other one fails,
No matter what venture he tries;
But when death in the end brings them both to their grave,
Six feet of earth makes them both of one size.
Now if ever you'll meet a poor fellow that tries,
To battle the world and its frown;
Just lend him a hand and perchance he'll succeed,
Don't crush and try to keep him down.
For one cup of cold water in charity given,
Is remembered with joy in the sky;
Men of all ages, remember my friend,
Six feet of earth makes us all of one size.
Collected in 1951 from Cyril O'Brien of Trepassey, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).
A variant was collected in 1958 from Mrs. Olive Coberley of Weaubleau, Missouri, by Max Hunter and published as #256 in the Max Hunter Folk Song Collection, edited by Dr. Michael F. Murray, Missouri State University.
Note: Two copies of a 1966 music manuscript from the Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management's Don Messer exhibit, retrieval number 1998-132/030/6202, identify the composer of Six Feet Of Earth as Stu Clayton.
