Uncle Phil - Signwwriter Lyrics

My Daddy was a signwriter
A poster artist too
He drew just like an angel
And he would sing a song for you
He painted, he gilded
He twanged the chalky string
And I'd give up 'most anything
If I could hear him, just once more, hear him sing

He could play piano
He sang nights at the club
He built my fort and our window seat
He liked to go down the pub
He took me to the football
When he had a Saturday free
He wanted me to work with him
But that was never, that was never to be

My Daddy was a good man
He showed us how to be
Looked after his wife and his children
And never was mean to me
Had a bump on his middle finger
Forty years holding brush and knife
Had a scar on his index finger
Where a sharp blade slipped: he carried it for life

His Daddy was a baker
A sometime publican too
Mistreated his wife and children
Was always looking out for a screw
He sang on the music halls
The Salford pubs and clubs
Had lots of friends, but hated his kids
O-oh, Hamlet, a-ay, there's the rub

He juggled basic colours: black, red, yellow, blue
He made them sing
He made them shout
Their voices clear and true
He gave me art and music
He made me love life, too
He gave me type, he gave me space
He gave me direction to do what I needed to do

My Daddy was a signwriter
And I know one thing
I'd give up 'most anything
If I could hear him, just once more, hear him sing