Runrig — The Work Song

[Verse 1] My father came from a Highland home And I was raised in a Lowland town He fought his life for a heartless soil I watched the burning wheels go round [Verse 2] I tried to break out, I grew my hair I kicked the ball and I made the grade The more I kicked the more I wept This is a hopeless, heartless cage [Chorus] A man must work his hands A man must bare his brow A man must hold his head high As he walks on through this world [Verse 3] We spoke in silence, we cursed in vain Then I shook the old man's hand If he could see me now, he'd be ashamed Is this the son that became a man [Verse 4] He knew his place and he knew his pride They've made a freeman of this slave No, there was never beauty here, but there was life What now for a freeman in his grave [Chorus] A man must work his hands A man must bare his brow A man must hold his head high As he walks on through this world [Verse 5] So what will I tell the woman I love Lying in her arms as the sun goes down You tell me you can live on love Rivers of plenty, money to burn [Verse 6] And as I lie across her breasts I feel the heartbeat of an unborn love I close my eyes and I pray to God Make this a daughter, not a son [Chorus] A man must work his hands A man must bare his brow A man must hold his head high As he walks on through this world A man must work his hands A man must bare his brow A man must hold his head high As he walks on through this world