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Dead Man’s Boots Lyrics by Michael Esper

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[Verse 1]
You see these work boots in my hands, they'll probably fit you now my son
Take them, they're a gift from me, why don't you try them on?
It would do your old man good to see you walking in these boots one day
And take your place among the men who work upon the slipway
[Chorus]
These dead man's boots, though they're old and curled
When a feller needs a job and a place in the world
And it's time for a man to put down roots
And walk to the river in his old man's boots
[Verse 2]
He said, "I'm nearly done and asking this, that you do one final thing for me
You're barely but a sapling, and you think that you're a tree
If you need a seed to prosper, you must first put down some roots
Just one foot then the other in these dead man's boots"
[Chorus]
These dead man's boots know their way down the hill
They could walk there themselves and they probably will
There's a place for you there to sink your roots
And take a walk to the river in his old man's boots
[Verse 3]
I said, "Why in the hell would I do that? And why would I agree?"
When his hand was all that I'd received, as far as I remember
It's not as if he'd spoiled me with his kindness up to then you see
I'd a plan of me own and I'd quit this place when I came of age September
[Chorus]
These dead man's boots know their way down the hill
They can walk there themselves and they probably will
I'd plenty of choices, and plenty other routes
And he'd never see me walking in these dead man's boots
[Bridge]
What was it made him think I'd be happy ending up like him?
When he'd hardly got two ha'pennies left, or a broken pot to piss in?
He wanted this same thing for me, was that his final wish?
He said, "What the hell are you going to do?"
I said, "Anything but this!"
[Chorus]
These dead man's boots know their way down the hill
They can walk there themselves and they most likely will
But they won't walk with me because I'm off the other way
I've had it up to here, I'm going to have my say
When all you've got left is that cross on the wall
I want nothing from you, I want nothing at all
Not a pension nor a pittance, when your whole life is through
Get this through your head, I'm nothing like you
I'm done with all the arguments, there'll be no more dispute
And you'll die before you see me in your dead man's boots
Credits
Michael Esper

Michael Esper

About “Dead Man’s Boots” by Michael Esper

Read the complete lyrics to "Dead Man’s Boots" by Michael Esper. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under UK, Folk, Rock.

"Dead Man’s Boots" is performed by Michael Esper. This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Dead Man’s Boots", explore more songs by Michael Esper using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Dead Man’s Boots" is credited to Michael Esper. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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Visit the Michael Esper artist page at /artist/michael-esper for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.