Empty Hands

 

Empty Hands

Written by Scott Wainwright

Well Mother cannot feed the kids

Well, not since dads been sent to war

She's not a proud woman

But if she cannot pay, she won't frequent the store

And she feels for the man at the bank

They are millionaires needing a little more

Playing the market with poor money

But keeping their own, safe and secure

Well Mother will clothe the kids

Even if it means she goes around in rags

Shes not a proud woman

She will make the most of all she has

Because the kids come first round here

And all those bills must be paid

While the rich bask in the suns light

A poor mother must wilt in the shade

(Chorus)

All the while, a little child

Can not understand

Why some men are rich beyond their wildest dreams

While she, only has, empty hands

Well Mother answers the door

Two men in uniform hand her an envelope

She's not a proud woman

She will not let the kids lose hope

Because Daddy was a brave man

And he was fighting on foreign soil

The kids don't need to know that he died

Protecting some rich mans supply of oil

Well Mother answers the phone

It was those suits from the bank

They know she's not a proud woman

But could she pay what she owes, thanks?

She cannot make ends meet

So she finds herself a little paid work

The kids need food and clothes

And Mothers empty stomach has ceased to hurt

(Chorus)

All the while, a little child

Can not understand

Why some men are rich beyond their wildest dreams

While she, only has, empty hands

Well Mother was out working late one day

And her boss said work must not cease

She's not a proud woman

But a neighbour called the police

When she got home a social worker

Was in her living room and the kids were in a police car

The neighbour had seen the kids home alone

Under-clothed, underweight and half starved

(Chorus)

All the while, a little child

Can not understand

Why some men are rich beyond their wildest dreams

While she. only has, empty hands

Well Mother kissed the kids goodbye

Who knew it had left her so terrified

She was not a proud woman

But her only way out was suicide

She knew deep down that those men at the bank

Would be payed the insurance on her life

So I guess it worked out okay

Because the owner of the bank, bought a diamond for his wife

Well came the day of the funeral

But the kids were kept away

She wasn't a proud woman

but the kids were encouraged to forget her all the same

And who know's what God thinks

When he looks down on this land

And see's some hoarding all the wealth

And others with only empty hands

From the album 'All That Glitters is not Gold'

Available here https://open.spotify.com/album/4SnQp2tzyrpQWub7aITgBt