My father was a big strong man who worked hard all his life

He was always in the whisky jar and never out of strife

For he called no man his master, and very few his friend

A proud and stiff-necked man he was who would neither bow nor bend

But they broke him in the end, when they'd no use for him

For they took away his job when they’d no use for him any more

After nearly thirty years they kicked him out the door

But they let him keep his railway jacket, overcoat, and cap

And a pension of nine bob a week, he was lucky to get that

And they nearly broke his heart, when they'd no use for him

Now, I spent most of my childhood days up in the switching box

High in my father's castle, twenty feet above the tracks

And crash would go the signals as he flipped them with his hand

And the mighty cars of steam and steel would stop at his command

And, oh, but it was grand, when they’d a use for him

When you're fifty-five years old and you're looking for some work

Nobody wants to know your face, no-one gives you a start

So I watched him growing older and more bitter every day

As all his pride and self-respect, they slowly drained away

There was nothing I could say -- they had no use for him

For they took away his job when they'd no use for him any more

After nearly thirty years they kicked him out the door

But they let him keep his railway jacket, overcoat, and cap

And a pension of nine bob a week, he was lucky to get that

And they nearly broke his heart, when they'd no use for him

And I know they broke his heart, when they'd no use for him