🏚️ Step Back to Victorian Times with Workhouse Blues

Workhouse Blues is a moving and atmospheric primary school song that captures the harsh reality of life in a Victorian workhouse. Sung in a soulful blues style, it’s the perfect way to explore the struggles of Victorian times in your classroom.

With a high-quality backing track, three poignant verses, and a memorable chorus, this song vividly transports children to the somber world of the Victorian era. Ideal for history lessons, class singing, or a Victorian-themed assembly, it provides a meaningful and emotional connection to the past.

👉 Download Workhouse Blues today and make your Victorian topic truly unforgettable.

 

🎶 What’s Included in Your Song Pack

• Vocal track – perfect for learning and rehearsals

• Atmospheric backing track – soulful blues style

• Printable sheet music – melody line, piano/keyboard, and lyrics

• Full lyrics (PDF and PowerPoint) – great for printing or projecting on screens

💡 Music Education Benefits

• Brings Victorian history to life through music

• Encourages empathy and discussion around the lives of the poor

• Develops ensemble singing skills in a blues style

• Supports cross-curricular links with history, drama, and PSHE

💛 Why Teachers Love Workhouse Blues

Teachers value how this song engages children emotionally while helping them understand Victorian social history. Its blues style makes it different and memorable, while the lyrics spark discussion and reflection.

 

🌟 A Must-Have for Your Victorians Topic

Enhance your Victorian history curriculum with Workhouse Blues – a song that combines emotional depth with powerful storytelling.

👉 Add it to your basket today and bring the Victorian workhouse experience to life.

 

Looking for more history song inspiration? Explore our full History song collection for schools – a great resource to develop both historical knowledge and musical skills.

 

 

 

 

 

Included in your song pack:

 

1. audio file of backing track with instruments playing the melody in mp3 format
2. audio file of vocal track in mp3 format
3. song words in PDF format
4. sheet music in PDF format
5. PowerPoint of song words

 

Simply add this item to your basket and then proceed to checkout. You can use either a debit/credit card or a PayPal account on the payment platform.
All the files will appear in your account ready to download with one click as a compressed ‘zip’ file and you’ll have everything you need to get singing straight away!

 

Want to save money? Then the Victorians Song Collection is for you! We’ve put all the Victorian songs together in one collection for a cheaper price than buying them individually.

 

Workhouse Blues – Lyrics

Chorus
Living here is not a place I would choose,
Got no money so I couldn’t refuse,
Looking down at all the holes in my shoes,
I’ve got the workhouse blues!

 

Verse 1
Lost my job and then felt really low,
Couldn’t pay the rent oh no, no, no,
Packed my bags I had nowhere to go,
Except the dreaded workhouse!

 

Chorus

 

Verse 2
It’s a crime that I am really poor,
Work all day for no pay makes me sore,
Breaking rocks or scrubbing every floor,
I’m in this dreaded workhouse!

 

Chorus

 

Verse 3
Kept from family I find so sad,
Bread and gruel to eat is just so bad,
Lots of rules, it always makes me mad,
I’m in this dreaded workhouse!

 

Chorus
(Repeat last line twice)

 

 

© A M Dilkes 2023 primarysongs.co.uk

 

Want to Bring History to Life in Your School? We recommend Historic Workshops! The No.1 history workshop provider in the UK. Unforgettable, hands-on educational experiences led by expert history workshop leaders who are: passionate about history; knowledgeable and enthusiastic!
www.HistoricWorkshops.com