Derby Day
Maz O'Connor Lyrics

I tugged my father's coat sleeve
I pulled on my father's coat to get his attention

And said "I cannot see the track"
I told him that I couldn't see the horse racing track

So he picked me up and swung me round
He lifted me up and playfully spun me around

And hung me from his back
He carried me on his back

"Settle down, son, settle down
He told me to calm down

They're starting any minute now
The horse race is about to begin

When you see them coming round the bend
When you see the horses approaching the curve in the track

You can wave and scream and shout.
You can cheer for the horses and shout out their names

And there's always troublemakers here,
There are often people causing problems at these events

But I'll keep you safe and sound
But he promised to keep me safe

There's no harm can befall you here
He reassured me that nothing bad would happen to me

Two yards from off the ground."
Since he was carrying me on his back, I was two yards off the ground

What a fine and sunny day it was
It was a beautiful, sunny day

The best I'd ever seen
It was the best day I had experienced so far

And what a view I had up there
I had a great view from being carried on my father's back

Of beggars, kings and queens
I could see all kinds of people in the crowd

And how I felt so tall and grand
I felt very important and big while being carried on my father's back

And how I held on tight
I held on tightly to my father while he carried me

Those horses thundering round the bend
The horses were running fast and loud around the curve in the track

Flashed purple green and white.
The jockey's uniforms had those colors

Or was it something new that grew
Something strange happened

And burst on to the track
It suddenly appeared on the horse racing track

I felt my father's shoulders flinch
I noticed my father's shoulders move with surprise or fear

He threw me from his back.
He dropped me off of his back

I thought I heard somebody cry
I think I heard someone shouting

"Let me live, or let me die!"
The person was begging for life or death

I thought I heard somebody say
I think I heard someone speaking

"I shall be free on Derby Day
The person proclaimed their freedom on this day of the horse race

They said that she was coming round
People were talking about her being in the horse race

They said she'd be all right
People said that she would be okay or safe

Lord, won't you bless all those
A request for divine protection or blessings for everyone involved

That had to look on such a sight
For all those who had witnessed something difficult or painful

Dressed in white like a faded bride
The person was wearing a white outfit, like a bride who has aged

Nine medals on her chest
The person had won nine medals/awards

Blazing there like battle wounds
The medals were like scars from a fierce war

Pinned on to her dress
The medals were attached to her outfit

"Let me live, or let me die!"
The person was still crying out for mercy, life, or death

"I shall be free on Derby Day
They proclaimed their freedom again

I shall be free on Derby Day"
On this day of the horse race, they would be free