Working for the council as a street cleaner is often seen as a demeaning job.
Lifting dogs dirt, sweeping up vomit, emptying maggot infested stuff from bins, it is not a nice job, just as you reach the end of the pavement you have cleaned someone at the other end is letting their dog do it's business, in the middle of all your good work, and they have absolutely no intention of demeaning themselves by picking it up, that's what the street cleaner is for!!!
You see, the job the man does, day in, day out, rain or shine, he does with dignity and pride - never seems to mutter -
What gets him through his working day is his retirement dream of buying his boat and sailing it up the west coast, whilst his former collegues and all those that come after them are still doing the same old job.
The boat represents his pride, joy and motivation, he's going to call it dignity as a little dig at his current occupation after doing what most people would see as a demeaning job.
ie. You might see me having to clear up this big turd right in the middle of the pavement to earn a living, but one day I'll be sailing up the west coast of Scotland on my own ship, called dignity, and you will all be doing the same old.
So, the song is essentially about this mans employment, and what motivates him to carry on doing such a menial task.
By the way, the children probably call him bogie because it's cold in the winter and if you have your litter picker in one hand, your bag in the other, inevitably your nose will produce a bogie or two and school kids don't miss a thing.
So, you see his job in Scotland is seen by so many as demeaning, that even school kids think it's ok to take the mick out of him.
Clever, insightfull, brilliant song that tells an inspirational story.
The sad reality of many working class people is that by the time they retire or have saved enough, their health lets them down and they physically are unable to sail that ship. The money they've struggled to save all their lives gets used for their care in a retirement/nursing home. Or the firm their private pension is with goes bump.
The sad reality of many working class people is that by the time they retire or have saved enough, their health lets them down and they physically are unable to sail that ship. The money they've struggled to save all their lives gets used for their care in a retirement/nursing home. Or the firm their private pension is with goes bump.
Lets hope more of us make that trip up the west coast when we retire.
Lets hope more of us make that trip up the west coast when we retire.
@kipstaz Excellent summary. The only other comment I'd add that buying and running a boat is an expensive business, and with this chap on a street cleaner's salary, there's an inherent sadness to this song as you know that although that's his dream, he's very unlikely to ever be able to achieve it and will probably only slowly realise as retirement approaches.
@kipstaz Excellent summary. The only other comment I'd add that buying and running a boat is an expensive business, and with this chap on a street cleaner's salary, there's an inherent sadness to this song as you know that although that's his dream, he's very unlikely to ever be able to achieve it and will probably only slowly realise as retirement approaches.
@kipstaz Love your meaning story. We have people who are retired around the lake in our neighborhood who don’t have a lot of money and spend their days fishing with dignity and job and pride. The probably had hard jobs in their lives too - and were often not treated with respect. So this song is for them too. Reminds us to show respect. When you dream you can dream big so dreaming of a boat in the west coast is a very doable dream also if you save on a humble salary.
@kipstaz Love your meaning story. We have people who are retired around the lake in our neighborhood who don’t have a lot of money and spend their days fishing with dignity and job and pride. The probably had hard jobs in their lives too - and were often not treated with respect. So this song is for them too. Reminds us to show respect. When you dream you can dream big so dreaming of a boat in the west coast is a very doable dream also if you save on a humble salary.
Working for the council as a street cleaner is often seen as a demeaning job. Lifting dogs dirt, sweeping up vomit, emptying maggot infested stuff from bins, it is not a nice job, just as you reach the end of the pavement you have cleaned someone at the other end is letting their dog do it's business, in the middle of all your good work, and they have absolutely no intention of demeaning themselves by picking it up, that's what the street cleaner is for!!! You see, the job the man does, day in, day out, rain or shine, he does with dignity and pride - never seems to mutter - What gets him through his working day is his retirement dream of buying his boat and sailing it up the west coast, whilst his former collegues and all those that come after them are still doing the same old job. The boat represents his pride, joy and motivation, he's going to call it dignity as a little dig at his current occupation after doing what most people would see as a demeaning job. ie. You might see me having to clear up this big turd right in the middle of the pavement to earn a living, but one day I'll be sailing up the west coast of Scotland on my own ship, called dignity, and you will all be doing the same old. So, the song is essentially about this mans employment, and what motivates him to carry on doing such a menial task.
By the way, the children probably call him bogie because it's cold in the winter and if you have your litter picker in one hand, your bag in the other, inevitably your nose will produce a bogie or two and school kids don't miss a thing. So, you see his job in Scotland is seen by so many as demeaning, that even school kids think it's ok to take the mick out of him.
Clever, insightfull, brilliant song that tells an inspirational story.
Such a joy.
@kipstaz Good comment. Upvoted.
@kipstaz Good comment. Upvoted.
The sad reality of many working class people is that by the time they retire or have saved enough, their health lets them down and they physically are unable to sail that ship. The money they've struggled to save all their lives gets used for their care in a retirement/nursing home. Or the firm their private pension is with goes bump.
The sad reality of many working class people is that by the time they retire or have saved enough, their health lets them down and they physically are unable to sail that ship. The money they've struggled to save all their lives gets used for their care in a retirement/nursing home. Or the firm their private pension is with goes bump.
Lets hope more of us make that trip up the west coast when we retire.
Lets hope more of us make that trip up the west coast when we retire.
@kipstaz Excellent summary. The only other comment I'd add that buying and running a boat is an expensive business, and with this chap on a street cleaner's salary, there's an inherent sadness to this song as you know that although that's his dream, he's very unlikely to ever be able to achieve it and will probably only slowly realise as retirement approaches.
@kipstaz Excellent summary. The only other comment I'd add that buying and running a boat is an expensive business, and with this chap on a street cleaner's salary, there's an inherent sadness to this song as you know that although that's his dream, he's very unlikely to ever be able to achieve it and will probably only slowly realise as retirement approaches.
@kipstaz Love your meaning story. We have people who are retired around the lake in our neighborhood who don’t have a lot of money and spend their days fishing with dignity and job and pride. The probably had hard jobs in their lives too - and were often not treated with respect. So this song is for them too. Reminds us to show respect. When you dream you can dream big so dreaming of a boat in the west coast is a very doable dream also if you save on a humble salary.
@kipstaz Love your meaning story. We have people who are retired around the lake in our neighborhood who don’t have a lot of money and spend their days fishing with dignity and job and pride. The probably had hard jobs in their lives too - and were often not treated with respect. So this song is for them too. Reminds us to show respect. When you dream you can dream big so dreaming of a boat in the west coast is a very doable dream also if you save on a humble salary.