Little Lenaldo by Hazel Dickens Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Little Lenaldo, he's only 11 years old
Gets up at dawn to work in the hot fields all day
For a mean boss man who'll abuse and never think twice
He's known for cheap labor and a heart that's cold as ice

[Verse 2]
Little Lenaldo, no time ever to run and play
Work is barely finished till its time to start another day
Gray-haired little children growing old before their time
Their leaves lay dying, they just rotted on the vine

[Chorus]
Poor little Lenaldo
Poor little ragged child
Poor little child, so young and so mild
Oh, what's to become of him?

[Verse 3]
How can it be we stand and just look away?
We 'tend not to see this man destroy a little child
In the fields a-plenty, starvin' out his time
But for chance or blessings, he could be a child of yours or mine
[Chorus]
Poor little Lenaldo
Poor little ragged child
Poor little child, so young and so mild
Oh, what's to become of him?

[Bridge]
Underpaid, underfed
He's worked like a dog every day

[Chorus]
Poor little child
So young and so mild
Oh, what's to become of him?