You see these work boots in my
hands they'll probably fit ye
now my son
Take them they're a gift from
me why don't you try them on
It would do your old man good to
see you walking in these boots
one day
And take your place among the
men who work upon the slipway
These dead man's boots though
they're old and curled
When a feller needs a job and a
place in the world
And it's time for a man to put
down roots
And walk to the river in his old
man's boots
He said I'm nearly done and
asking this that ye do one
final thing for me
You're barely but a sapling and
you think that you're a tree
If ye need a seed to prosper ye
must first put down some roots
Just one foot then the other in
these dead man's boots
These dead man's boots know
their way down the hill
They could walk there
themselves and they probably will
There's a place for ye there to
sink your roots
And take a walk down the river
in these dead man's boots
I said Why in the Hell would
I do that And why would
I agree
When his hand was all that
I'd received as far as I remember
It's not as if he'd spoiled me
with his kindness up to
then ye see
I'd a plan of me own and
I'd quit this place
when I came of age September
These dead man's boots know
their way down the hill
They can walk there themselves
and they probably will
I'd plenty of choices and
plenty other routes
And he'd never see me walking in
these dead man's boots
What was it made him think
I'd be happy ending up like him
When he'd hardly got two
halfpennies left or a broken
pot to piss in
He wanted this same thing for
me was that his final wish
He said What the hell are ye
gonna do
I said Anything but this
These dead man's boots know
their way down the hill
They can walk there themselves
and they most likely will
But they won't walk with me
'cos I'm off the other way
I've had it up to here
I'm gonna have my say
When all ye've got left is that
cross on the wall
I want nothing from you
I want nothing at all
Not a pension nor a pittance
when your whole life is through
Get this through your head
I'm nothing like you
I'm done with all the arguments
there'll be no more dispute
And ye'll die before ye see me
in your dead man's boots