Dirt Under My Nails

Now the days are long like I never knew

Years pass so quick and the kids, they grew

I know I'm old and my mind is slow

But I paid my dues those years ago

We did the very best work that we could

And we worked every day both hard and good

Said our prayers and we paid our debts

And I sit right here with few regrets

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for my family with the dirt under my nails

Came Down Under after World War Two

No work back home for us to do

Up north, I cut sugarcane for three years

Sent the money back home to get the girl down here

Didn't meet my son till he was four years old

I swore I'd never let him go hungry or cold

I carry that concrete on my back

And I swore then I was gonna make my mark

And we saved every penny and we bought a home

Italian work ethic paid off our loan

In only nine years, I've proven my worth

A homeowner on the other side of the Earth, I built

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for the family with the dirt under my nails

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for my family with the dirt under my nails

Now my grandkids, they fill me with pride

My sons and daughters tuned out alright

Take me for a walk when the weather's fair

I spend most of my days sittin' in my chair

And I tell them tales of the world long past

The years just seem to fly so fast

I tell 'em of the sacrifice

I tell them of a wonderful life, I built

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for the family with the dirt under my nails

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for my family with the dirt under my nails

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for the family with the dirt under my nails

With the dirt under my nails I built, with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for the family with the dirt under my nails

I built a home for the family with the dirt under my nails