Lyrics

Gideon
He said “you see these work boots in my hands,
They’d probably fit ye know, my son.
Take them, they’re a gift from me,
Why don’t you try them on?
It would do your old man good to see
You walking in his boots one day
And take your place among the men
Who work up on the slipway.”
These dead man’s boots,
Though they’re old and curled,
When a feller needs a job
And a place in the world,

Joe
And it’s time for a man to put down roots,

Joe & Gideon
And walk to the river in your old man’s boots.

Gideon
Why in the Hell would I do that
And why would I agree?
When your hand was all that I received,
As far as I remember.
It’s not as if you’d spoiled me
With your kindness up to then you see.
I had a plan of me own and I’d quit this place
When I came of age September.

Gideon & Young Gideon
These dead man’s boots
Know their way down the hill,
They could walk there themselves
And they probably will.

Gideon
I had plenty of choice, plenty other routes
And you’d never see me walking in these dead man’s boots.
What was it made him think,
I’d be happy ending up like him,
When he’d hardly got two ha’pennies left
Or a broken pot to piss in.
He wanted the same thing for me,
Was that his final wish?

Joe
What the hell are you going to do?!

Young Gideon
Anything but this!

Young Gideon & Gideon
These dead man’s boots
Know their way down the hill,
They could walk there themselves
And they probably will.

Gideon
But they won’t walk with me,
Cause I’m off the other way,
I’ve had it up to here,
I’m going to have my say.
When all you’ve got left
Is that cross on the wall,
I want nothing from you,
I want nothing at all,

Not a pension or a pittance
When this whole life is through,
Get this through your head,
I’m nothing like you!
I’m done with all the arguments,
There’ll be no more disputes,
And you’ll die before you see me
In these dead man’s boots.