I Was a Belfast Working Man
I was a Belfast working man.
Each day I carried my tin can,
With two soda farls and a clip of ham
Wrapped up in my old bandana.
Chorus
Old times forever fled,
When men could work and earn their bread,
Now we shiver in a queue instead,
Or live on the O.D.R.
Shovel and pick and hod as well
With each and all I wrought a spell;
Now work is a thing of the past, farewell
Wee tin can and old bandana.
Sadly I dream of old days when
Work was for all, now women and men
Sign on the dole with the scrape of a pen,
This life is a panorama!
I am no longer a working man,
For work's like life and lasts a span,
Battered and bent is my wee tin can
In ribbons my old bandana.
Chorus
Old times a long time fled
Ere ye come back we'll all be dead,
And our children shiver in the queue instead,
Or live on the O.D.R.