Man of the Earth
Vin Garbutt Lyrics


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A man of the earth, a man of the soil in his lonely alotment he labours and toils.
He's not much to do since he turned 65.
So he took to his garden to keep him alive its his only joy and his pride.
Every day as I go through the old shanty town where the sheds and alotments all stand I see the old man of the land with a rake or a spade in his hand.
He's there in all weather in sunshine or rain




Overall Meaning

The song "Man of the Earth" by Vin Garbutt tells the story of an elderly man who, after turning 65, finds solace in gardening. In his lonely allotment, he works hard to till the soil and grow his plants. Despite having little to do, he finds joy and pride in his garden. The lyrics suggest that this man of the earth has a deep connection to nature and finds fulfillment through hard work and perseverance.


The song also touches on the concept of seeing beauty in the ordinary or overlooked things in life. Garbutt sings about passing through an old shanty town and noticing the man of the land working in his allotment. The imagery suggests that even though the man's surroundings may not be glamorous, his commitment to his garden is admirable and inspiring. The song celebrates the simplicity and resilience of the human spirit.


Line by Line Meaning

A man of the earth, a man of the soil in his lonely allotment he labours and toils.
This man works hard on his garden, cultivating the earth and taking pride in what he grows.


He's not much to do since he turned 65.
Since he's reached retirement age, he's found joy in tending to his garden.


So he took to his garden to keep him alive its his only joy and his pride.
His garden gives him a sense of purpose and pride, and keeps him going in life.


Every day as I go through the old shanty town where the sheds and allotments all stand I see the old man of the land with a rake or a spade in his hand.
This man is a familiar sight in his community, tending to his garden every day.


He's there in all weather in sunshine or rain.
This man is dedicated to his garden, working in it no matter what the weather conditions are.




Contributed by Annabelle L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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