You see these work boots in my hands, theyll probably fit ye now my son,
Take them, theyre a gift from me, why dont 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 mans boots, though theyre old and curled,
When a feller needs a job and a place in the world,
And its time for a man to put down roots,
And walk to the river in his old mans boots.
He said, Im nearly done and asking this, that ye do one final thing for me!
Youre barely but a sapling, and you think that youre 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 mans boots.
These dead mans boots know their way down the hill,
They could walk there themselves, and they probably will.
Theres a place for ye there to sink your roots,
And take a walk down the river in these dead mans boots.
I said, Why in the Hell would I do that? And why would I agree?
When his hand was all that Id received, as far as I remember.
Its not as if hed spoiled me with his kindness up to then ye see.
Id a plan of me own and Id quit this place when I came of age September.
These dead mans boots know their way down the hill,
They can walk there themselves, and they probably will.
Id plenty of choices, and plenty other routes,
And hed never see me walking in these dead mans boots.
What was it made him think Id be happy ending up like him?
When hed 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 mans boots know their way down the hill,
They can walk there themselves and they most likely will.
But they wont walk with me cos Im off the other way,
Ive had it up to here, Im gonna have my say.
When all yeve 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, Im nothing like you,
Im done with all the arguments, therell be no more dispute,
And yell die before ye see me in your dead mans boots.