There are only a very few songs which bring me to tears, but Joe Peel has that effect on me every time I hear it. You see, I was brought up by a Scottish "Joe Peel" who had lived almost the same lifestory as Peter's
fictitious? character including the mining and the sport.   I feel the song is too moving to be totally fictitious.

"The day you left, I stayed outside
With scalding tears, no comfort knowing
We all turned up to say goodbye
The church was filled to overflowing
You'd never have believed it if you'd seen
How many people mourned your going
And just how lucky folks still feel
To say they knew Joe Peel"