Eric Bogle - Dan lyrics

"Dan" By Eric Bogle I'm pleased to meet you, my name's Dan, And I'm an honest working man A tarnished badge, they tell me, But it's one I wear with pride A fair day's work for a fair day's pay, I've always lived my life that way But now I can't help thinking, I've been taken for a ride Those hard years on the factory floor, Toilin' in the ceaseless roar, That made me old before my time, Wrecked my hearing and my health And when I total up the cost, What I've gained to what I've lost I ask myself now Dan, What's the total of your wealth? Just how much is your life worth? I live in a house I'll never own, Could never get a housing loan Bank managers and suchlike, Don't rate the likes of me Feeding three kids on a fitter's wage, I've always found it hard to save And being an honest working man Don't count as equity All those years of toil and sweat, Climbing in and out of debt I often look back on them And ask myself for what? A rented house on a grimy street An endless fight to make ends meet When you add it all together, It don't seem like a lot But it's all that I've got But a man's life can't be judged alone By what he has or what he owns It's what he loves and cares for That gives it quality And what gives meaning to my life Are my three kids and my wife We've always stuck together, Always being a family Now my kids are rotting on the dole, Holding out the beggar's bowl I see the anger in their eyes, It cuts me to the heart And shall I simply stand aside While my kids are slowly crucified? Watch all I've worked and cared for As it slowly falls apart Well by Christ, I won't do that I'm pleased to meet you, my name's Dan, And I'm an honest working man A tarnished badge, they tell me, But it's one I wear with pride A fair day's work for a fair day's pay, I've always lived my life that way But now I can't help thinking, I've been taken for a ride And though I ain't got much to spare, What I have I'm going to share To give my kids and other kids, Some purpose, pride, and place And you leeches, grown fat on my sweat, I promise you I won't forget When I asked you if you'd share the load, You laughed right in my face Yes, you laughed right in my face I'm pleased to meet you, my name's Dan, And I'm an honest working man