Born to the Strain

I was born in the shadow of a shipyard crane

on the rolling banks where the Giants reign

like each brother I joined the line

And I pulled my weight I served my time

I watched them go as they launched the boats

we waved our flags as they came afloat

now the shipyard gone we lost our pride

And the town got sick, and a town just died

Born to the steel, born to the strain

Born to a hurt that you'll never know

Born to the work born to the pain

Born to a life that you'll never know

I was born in a cottage of a mining town

Where the men cut tin deep underground

and the work was hard, but we sung our songs

While the thick dust fell, and it choked our lungs

Now the town all quiet and the old men sit

And they tell their tales since they closed the pit

their houses gone and their families broke

 you know their sorrow by the way they choke

Born to the steel, born to the strain

Born to a hurt that you'll never know

Born to the work born to the pain

Born to a life that you'll never know

I was born in a terrace at the edge of the bay

I worked each trawler to scrimp and save

All year round before the sun

I'd ride each wave til the dawn world come.

The docks shut down and the fleet's moved on

And the fishing grounds are spent and gone

The works dried up with the yards all closed

It's an industry gone but we can't let go.

Born to the steel, born to the strain

Born to the work, born to the pain

Born to the steel, born to the strain

Born to a hurt that you'll never know

Born to the work born to the pain

Born to a life that you'll never know