The song is sung from the point of view of the children in a workhouse for orphans where they are forced to work to “earn their keep”, and deprived of proper nutrition while the administrators feast on delicacies. The children arrive for breakfast fantasizing about delicious food such as
sausage and mustard, and sweets including jelly and
custard. When the workhouse boys arrive at the front of the serving line they receive only tasteless
gruel from the staff. The song is intended as a metaphor for keeping hope alive, despite being mistreated. ==In popular culture==