The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #99275   Message #2137571
Posted By: GUEST,Young Buchan
31-Aug-07 - 08:02 AM
Thread Name: Songs about the British Motor Industry
Subject: ADD: Old Man's Song (Alasdair Clayre)
OK. Finally found the words of The Old Man's Song:


The Old Man's Song

(Alasdair Clayre)

When I was young and married my wife
You couldn't get a job to save your life;
With my wife and son at either hand
For two long years I travelled the land:
And I reckon I've served my time.

My shoes were out. My coat was torn.
And then we had our daughter born.
But I found this job and I earned our bread,
Clothes for our back, a roof for our heads:
And I reckon I've served my time.

They were cut-throat years - you were fighting your mate
With another man waiting for your job at the gate.
If the foreman didn't like your face that day
You got no work,you got no pay:
And I reckon I've served my time.

Then we joined the Union and learned to strike.
It was six hard weeks but we won that fight.
Work to our hands and a worthwhile wage _
We were waking up a golden age:
And I reckon I've served my time.

But the young men now they dress so fine;
They don't know how we fought for this line.
They're getting too young to know my face;
And their work comes to me at the Devil's pace.
And I reckon I've served my time.