Tripping up the stairs / an honest gamble

O'Connell was a steel worker, bluecollar man he was labelled
Been 21 years on the Yarrows Dock slinging welding cable
He married a good Catholic girl at the age of 21
By the time he reached 28, she'd borne seven young

He put in hours of overtime to keep food on the table
Under the strain of an achin' back did all that he was able
Laboured on the Otter, ran beads on the B.C. Ferries
He'd never been for lack of work since he left County Kerry

There's got to be another way, there's got to be another way
With mouths to feed and bills to pay
And I'm searching...
...for that tiny ray of hope

Well you can't afford to spend much if haven't got a dime
So an honest gamble buys a dream on Lotto 6/49
When you've got two chances, slim and none, the odds aren't in your favor
With the luck of the Irish in your blood, you're one up on your neighbor

Every Wednesday's Winsday as he searches through The Sun
To find the winning numbers in the hopes that he has won
Through the din of the canteen he walks towards the door
With a winner in his pocket, he'll punch the clock no more

There's got to be another way, there's got to be another way
With mouths to feed and bills to pay
And I'm searching...
...for that tiny ray of hope