But if it be my chance, Homewards to advance, From the Land of Virginny, O; If that I once more, Land on English Shore, I’ll no more be weary, weary, weary, weary O.
She has faith that if she moves one last time, she will feel less tired and have a much better experience than she had in Virginia.
Then let Maids beware, All by my ill-fare, In the Land of Virgnny, O; Be sure thou stay at home, For if you do here come, You will all be weary, weary, weary, weary, O.
She wants to warn everybody that Virginia is a very miserable place and that those who visit will be exhausted due to having to work constantly.
A thousand Woes beside, That I do here abide,
She is obedient even when feeling extreme distress.
No rest that I can have, Whilst I am here a Slave,
This really expresses how she gets no breaks and is constanty working very hard physically and emotionally.
I must sing, By a by;
She needs to care for children all while doing tons of unpaid work, which is extremely hard and overwhelming.
Instead of drinking Beer, I drink the Water clear,
It seems she does not have much water to drink, nor many options of other drinks.
Billats from the Wood, Upon my back they load,
She is continuously carrying more and more thick pieces of wood on her back, and they are getting quite heavy.
So soon as it is day, To work I must away,
She is expected to work all day every day with no exceptions.
Round about my Bed, She spins her tender web,
This further emphasizes the low quality of her bed, as not only is it made of straw but it also attracts spiders and possibly other animals.
Instead of Beds of Ease, To lye down when I please, In the Land of Virginny, O, Upon a Bed of Straw, I lay down full of Woe, When that I was weary weary, weary, weary, O.
This is an especially significant reason as to why she is so weary. She could not even have a comfortable place to sleep.
The Cloaths that I brought in, They are worn very thin,
She does not have very many clothes or clothes of good quality to wear.
When she sits at Meat,
Her master was able to eat while she was forced to starve.
When my Dame says, Go, Then I must do so,
This really tells us how little freedom she had and that her only choice was to obey.
weary, weary, weary
The repetition of the word "weary" emphasizes how truly draining it was for the young girl to work constantly while also starved.