Sorry, I hit the wrong key and posted too soon!
The first verse describes the lack of options for a young man in a Cape Breton mining town. Although many aspired to another life most ended up in the pit, often at a young age.
The 64 year old portrayed in the second verse relates to a guide at a mine in Sydney Mines. He spent his life underground and portrayes that to Rita when she took a tour.
Many believe the tour guide to have been at the Miners Museum in Glace Bay but that is also not correct. Also the guide was not her father as some threads state.
Rita has passed away recently and in Cape Breton we miss her dearly and I hope her legacy will live on for many years!
The best versions of this song are done by Rita herself or by Cape Breton's coal mining choir, the Men Of The Deeps with Nipper macLeod singing the lead. Both can be found on YouTube.