Let me tell you a little story bout
The way things used to be
My Dad took me to Sydney back in nineteen forty three
He said son you're not wearing those
They'd call us bush galoots
If you went out and walked about
In those high-heeled riding boots
But I stand back and laugh today
At the way that times have changed
So many town-folk dressed as
If they just stepped off the range
But that day back in forty three
I could not pick and choose
The day my old man made me wear a pair of lace up shoes
We went out to Regal Zonophone on Parramatta Road
We walked along Columbia Lane
Where some famous feet have strode
But the man in charge was not impressed
Don't call us we'll call you
And to make things worse my feet still hurt
From those dammed new lace-up shoes
And there were soldiers everywhere
In town six o'clock was closing time
And if you didn't tip everywhere
You went the yanks won all the time
I was pushed along as I dreamed of home
Where the skies were clean and blue
Far away from this rat race in town
And big mobs with lace-up shoes
But I stand back and laugh today
At the way that times have changed
So many town-folk dressed as
If they just stepped off the range
But that day back in forty three
I could not pick and choose
The day my old man made me wear a pair of lace-up shoes
Here we go
Now as I look back on the singing track since
Nineteen forty three
The harder I worked you know old mate
The luckier I seemed to be
But I've always sung of the old home run in
The best was that I knew
But I still feel bad when I think of Dad
And those dammed new lace-up shoes
Hey
Yeah I stand back and laugh today
At the way that times have changed
So many town-folk dressed as
If they just stepped off the range
I've lived my life with few regrets
The same again I'd choose
And Be flat as a tack in this old felt hat
With my pair of Williams shoes
Yodel lay oh lay oh lay hey hey