My Time Again

(album: Gangs Of New Holland - 2010)

My Daddy he were just a boy when he walked outta school
His Mammy said there'd soon be one more hungry mouth to fill
He said 'the learning and the schooling wurnae bad for them that could
Tho' I can read and write my bloody name and sign it where I should'
And he said

'If I had my time again, I know I'd be a learned man
An artisan in high demand, a Doctor or a Teacher
As sure as guns are made of iron, I were born a working man
I'd live and die right where I stand if I'd my time againg

He went wide eyed down tae Johnny Brown, he were a big lad for his years
And there he worked so long if he ever cried there'd be iron ore in his tears
He'd tumble in of a Friday night a Haddie for yer tea
And he'd sing to me their dirty songs and diddle me on his knee
And he'd sing

'If I had my time again, I know I'd be a roving man
I'd rove away to far Japan to court the Emperors daughter
As sure as guns are made of iron, I were born a working man
I'd live and die right where I stand if I'd my time againg

With his mates he'd belt the plates on fleets of shining awe
To carry all the well-to-do to golden foreign shores
They all coughed themselves to an early grave half filled with bloody rain
As the people sang 'The Long Black Limousine'
We all sing

'If I had my time again, I know I'd be a fighting man
In far Malay or Vietnam, tho' I am more a lover
As sure as guns are made of iron, I were born a working man
I'd live and die right where I stand if I'd my time againg
My time again

'If I had my time again, I know I'd be a learned man
An artisan in high demand, a Doctor or a Teacher
As sure as guns are made of iron, I were born a working man
I'd live and die right where I stand if I'd my time againg

'If I had my time again, I know I'd be a fighting man
In far Malay or Vietnam, tho' I am more a lover
As sure as guns are made of iron, I were born a working man
I'd live and die right where I stand if I'd my time againg
My time again