Ralph McTell

Alexi
My name is Alexei, I once was a farmer And in '17 took up arms in the fight And later I worked on the land for my country And after my children slept hungry at night But I hear that the miners in the state of Kentucky Are not even as lucky as me They cannot afford to buy shoes for their children And why, oh why, are they frightened of me? Our countries preach one word, yet practice another In the name of freedom one fights in Vietnam And the other sends soldiers to Czechoslovakia And I from my window look out at the land My name is Alexei and I am an old man And all of my life I have worked on the land The giver, the taker, receiver of all life The blood and the dirt are ingrained in my hands My body is broken but not yet my spirit My eyes are tired but not yet my mind Through the frail strength of age I can call you my brother For I see that your hands are as dirty as mine I see that your hands are as dirty as mine (Thanks to James for these lyrics) From Letras Mania