i met him outside a hostel door

he said i'll tell you mine if you tell me yours

i know you think its shifty

for a man in his fifties

to be sleeping in a hostel dorm

but i used to be a welder by trade

used to work by the water where the ships get made

but no ship yard will take me now

my hands are too shaky now

and i've spent all my money before i get paid



well i said david don't you think its strange,

while you were sleeping how the world went and changed

looking in your eyes i think you know

david we lost you

we lost you a long time ago



he leans his head a against a hostel wall

said i've an ex wife that doesn't hear me

and a kid that doesn't call

and every month i'm caught short

with my sodding child support

and the court says that i'm reckless and irresponsible

see it was never part of the plan,

to be a middle aged man

to be sat outside a hostel shaking strangers hands

but i've drunk away my wealth

and I'm a picture of bad health

and i'm a shadow of a shadow of a former self



and i said david don't you think its strange,

while you were walking how the world went and changed

i hear it in your voice i think you know

david we lost you

we lost you a long time ago



well i said david don't you think its strange,

while you were in your dark room how the world went and changed

looking in your eyes i think you know

david we lost you

we lost you a long time ago