Govan
A was born in a tenement, on the banks of the Clyde
In the borough of Govan, that’s on the southside
Grew up among shipyards, aw ma family worked in
My granda, my granny and ma uncle Jim
There was Stevens, an Fairfields, an Harland & Wolfe
We were destined for the yards when we left school
But orders stopped coming, and gradually they closed
Taken over by foreigners that’s good - A suppose
When Gus, Jimmy and Lachie entered the gates
Among the last apprenticeships, the year 68
America had hippies Woodstock and drugs
Govan had gangs, con men and thugs.
Fitba on Saturday an a night at a club
Monday through Friday we drank at the pub
We’d sing aboot Scotland, didnnae know aw the words
Or the history of our nation which made it absurd
We disliked the English, an we fought with each other
Catholics against Proddies, brother against brother
Roll and square sausage, pie or a bridie
Us Protestants would eat that food - on a Friday
Unlike the Catholics wi their only dish
The Pope he says we can hae only fish
Rangers n’ Celtic blue or the green
Wearin’ the colours of yer favourite team
Scarfs, bunnets, jackets you’d see the fans
Headin’ to Ibrox, beer cans in hand
Singing God save the Queen and wave the Union Jack
Where the hell was the Saltaire "what’s up wi that?"
A live there no longer A’ve been gone for a while
But I do return and it brings on a smile
You can take the boy out of Scotland
And move him away, but he’ll come hame on anither day.
It’s been thirty years since a left my local
My bride’s now a granny, an a wear bifocals
Between us we’ve gained almost sixty pound
Which was two weeks wages when we were around
I’m getting older and sometimes homesick
For the light misty rain that soaks you real quick
But I’m proud to be Scottish, born and bred
And I’ll stay Scottish til the day that I’m dead.
Tommy Wilson Milton ONTARIO
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