[Intro]

[Verse 1]
With a toddler in one hand and a cigarette in the other
He looked at her through tiny puff of smoke
With kisses and cancer stains his daughter he would smother
And that foolish mix of confidence and hope

[Pre-Chorus 1]
And I know that he had higher hopes than that
Stuck behind that desk at work, listening to that crap
When your boss wears not just trousers, but traffic warden's hat
You know that you had higher hopes than that

[Chorus 1]
He said, 'As soon as you got sunshine, you got clouds
Soon as your freedom, there's a sign says, 'Not allowed'
Soon as you get good news, you get holes appear in shoes
And that's just the way the furrows plough

[Instrumental 1]

[Verse 2]
He worked up at the carpark; he was by and large ignored
He parked 'em and then cleaned them all by hand
And there hadn't been a car so far his wages could afford
Or GNP would ever understand
[Pre-Chorus 2]
And he thought that he had higher hopes than this
Between the shagging couples and the staircase stained with piss
And he's always home so late at night, his kids he's scared to kiss
And he thought that he had higher hopes than this

[Chorus 2]
He said, 'Soon as you got sunshine, you got clouds'
Soon as you got your freedom, there's a sign says, 'Not allowed'
Soon as you get good news, you get holes appear in shoes
And that's just the way the furrows plough

[Instrumental 2]

[Bridge]
(Soon as you got chips, you've got seagulls
Soon as you got land, you've got work)
(Soon as you got chips, you've got seagulls
Soon as you got land, you've got work)

Soon as you get the