Father I was young didn't fully understand.    

All I knew was you had the disease that was sweeping across the land.

Early in the morning when you should have been away to work.

Your sitting across the kitchen table. Staring at the bottom of a cup.

They crossed your palm with silver, knowing that you would fade away, not a thought about how you'd spend empty lonely days, lonely empty days

Theres a black and white photograph surrounded by a gold guilt frame

A pocket watch in a velvet box on the backs engraved your name

And every time I look at them it  renews a faith in me

I'm not walking down that self same road let whatever will be will be.

They won't cross my palm with silver and I will not fade away.

36 weeks wages given with a greasy palm 

Another nail in the sealed up coffin of the dignity of the working man

Nothing to do with output best production in the land

Just another lesson in geography that I never will understand

They crossed your palm with silver, knowing that you would fade away, not a thought about how you'd spend empty lonely days, lonely empty days