Ewan Maccoll - My old man

^GMy old man was a good old man Skilled in the moulding ^Dtrade In the stinking heat of the ^Ciron ^Gfoundry ^CMy old man was ^Dmade ^CDown on his knees in the ^Gmoulding sand He ^Cwore his trade like a ^Dcompany brand He was ^Cone of the cyclops' ^Gsmoky band Yes, ^Cthat was ^Dmy old ^Gman

^GMy old man wasn't really old It's just that I was ^Dyoung And anybody over ^Ctwelve years ^Gold ^CWas halfway to the ^Dtomb ^CHe was loyal to his workmates ^Gall his life ^CGave his pay packet ^Dto his wife Had a few ^Cjars on a ^GSaturday night Yes, ^Cthat was ^Dmy old ^Gman

^GMy old man was a union man Fought hard all his ^Ddays He ^Cunderstood the ^Gsystem ^CAnd was wise to the boss' ^Dways He ^Csays, you want what's ^Gyours by right You ^Chave to struggle with ^Dall your might They'll ^Crob you blind if ^Gyou don't fight Yes, ^Cthat was ^Dmy old ^Gman

^GMy old man was a proud old man At home on the foundry ^Dfloor Un^Ctil the day they ^Glaid him off And ^Cshowed him to the ^Ddoor They ^Cgave him his card, said, ^Gthings are slack We've ^Cgot a machine can ^Dlearn the knack Of ^Cdoing your job, so ^Gdon't come back The e^Cnd of ^Dmy old ^Gman

^GMy old man he was fifty-one What was he to ^Ddo? A craftsman moulder ^Con the ^Gdole ^CIn nineteen thirty-^Dtwo He ^Cfelt he'd given all ^Ghe could give So ^Che did what thousands of ^Dothers did Abandoned ^Chope and the ^Gwill to live They ^Ckilled him, ^Dmy old ^Gman

^GMy old man he is dead and gone Now I am your old ^Dman And my advice to ^Cyou, my ^Gson ^CIs to fight back while ^Dyou can ^CWatch out for the man with the ^Gsilicon chip Hold on to^C your job with a ^Dgood firm grip 'Caus^Ce if you don't you'll have ^Ghad your chips The ^Csame as ^Dmy old ^Gman