[Verse 1]
At Gateshead in a tanner's yard
Three young men were jawing hard
A poor old horse they'd fixed to kill
Befell the task to dexterous Bill

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 2]
His palms around the hilt of the axe
Delivered such a horrible blow
The horse emerged a strangled cry
He glanced it just above the eye

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 3]
And now to put it out of pain
Our Billy took another aim
The horse forsook the man he cursed
For the second blow was much like the first
[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 4]
He kept up thumping on its head
And then he worked the body instead
The air grew cloudy with breath so hot
Of man and beast a-mingling

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 5]
"I'll try no more" conceded Bill
So up stepped Ned to test his skill
He wacked the poor thing on his nose
He sprained his wrist and bloodied his clothes

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse
[Verse 6]
The foreman came then with his knife
Determined for to take its life
He took his aim and thrust it home
Alas he hit the collarbone

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 7]
They broke its leg with a rusty spade
Then all upon it heavily laid
To quell the struggle each did their part
Until the blade had reached its heart

[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse

[Verse 8]
Now each he goes his separate path
For a cup full of ale or a nice hot bath
A kiss on the lips of a wife newly wed
Or a look at the baby sleeping in bed
[Chorus]
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse
Poor old horse
Poor old horse
Hear what they did to the poor old horse