Gilbert was on the Danny Baker Show yesterday (13-2-16) and spoke about his lyrics including this one. He said it was based on things he's hear his mum say when he was a child - 'The both of yous' is very Irish and refers to Ray/Gilbert and his sister. His mum was a single parent at a time when that was not so common, especially amongst Irish Catholics so my earlier interpretation is only half right - the songs is sung from the child's perspective and the central figure is a lone mother - not a dad.
Gilbert was on the Danny Baker Show yesterday (13-2-16) and spoke about his lyrics including this one. He said it was based on things he's hear his mum say when he was a child - 'The both of yous' is very Irish and refers to Ray/Gilbert and his sister. His mum was a single parent at a time when that was not so common, especially amongst Irish Catholics so my earlier interpretation is only half right - the songs is sung from the child's perspective and the central figure is a lone mother - not a dad.