Six O'Clock Swill

Ted wipes the shit from his hands, as he walks from the shed
With a scratch pulls some burrs from the back of his head
Spits his fag to the ground with a flick of his tongue
Flops on a bale with an audible sigh
Brushes the sweat as it drips from his eyes
Another day's classing has gone by the by, it's been done

Ted pulls his blue flame from his back, as he heads for a wash,
With an oath gives a cursory nod to the boss
Cops a slap on the back, as he reaches the door
Now that the horrors of work have been done
Before he returns to the traumas of home
There's still a few hours left, that he calls his own

He'll drink to his friends and his comrades
To his little lady at home
He'll drink to the memory of all the great bastards he's known
He'll drink to his queen and his country
He'll drink and he'll drink again still
He'll drink till he falls, or the publican calls
Yes he'll drink to his fill,
Of the 6 o'clock swill

Ted wipes the froth from his mouth as he heads to the bar
Spies a barmaid he's not seen before
If he elbows his way through
He's in with a chance
He'll tell her some stories he's told in the past
As he drains out the dregs of another pint glass
It may be his fifth, but it won't be his last for the day

He'll drink to his friends and his comrades,
He'll drink till the cows are well home
He'll drink to the memory of all the great bastards he's known
He'll drink to his queen and his country
He'll drink and he'll drink again still
He'll drink till he falls, or the publican calls,
Yes he'll drink to his fill,
Of the Six O'Clock Swill

At home there's a meal on the table
And kids running wild in the hall
He's stuck with his lot, but he's willing to wager it all
Cos beleaguered by debt, bedevilled by fog, bewitched by the lure of the foam
Besotted by barmaids, benighted by grog
But be buggered if he's going home

Repeat chorus