You wired the trains and went back home to St. Claire's shores
   Before you became a spark down at the yard
   You were passing through those hungry years alone
   You were just trying to make a living out in Detroit
  
   When you came back off the boats you didn't want to go anywhere
   You sit down to TV in your favourite chair
   You watch the big picture fade away down at Harland and Wolff
   But you still kept on choppin' wood
  
   And you came back home to Belfast
   So you could be with us like
   You lived your life of quiet desperation on the side
   Going to the shipyard in the morning on your bike
  
   Well the spark was gone but you carried on
   You always did the best you could
   You sent for us once but everything fell through
   But you still kept on choppin' wood choppin' wood
  
   Well you came back home to Belfast
   So you could be with us like
   And you lived a life of quiet desperation on the side
   Going to the shipyard in the morning on your bike
  
   WeIl the spark was gone but you carried on
   Well you did just the best that you could
   You sent for us one time but everything fell through
   But you still kept on choppin' wood
  
   Kept on choppin'wood
   Kept on choppin' wood
   Local man chops wood
   You know you did the best you could
  
   Well everything just fell through
   Kept on choppin' wood
   Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
   Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
   Chop, chop, chop, keep on choppin'
   Chop, chop, chop, choppin' wood