When l I worked in the mines
My future had a heart
But when they closed Hem Heath down
Everything just fell apart
And with the pot banks closing down
Jobs were hard to find
All the work went off to China
And we were left behind
And then I met Michelle
She was pretty she was sweet
When she gave birth to little Danny
My life was complete
But Michelle soon grew restless
Wanted a better life
Then she met a fancy lawyer
And he made her his wife
And when she took little Danny
I thought my heart would break
Said I could see him just at weekends
Once a month – and don’t be late
I met a man one night
Said I’ve got the job for you
You’ll make more than you can ever spend
Smuggling cocaine from Peru
Just one step, and I’d be through
Then I’d be home, to be with you
I know it’s wrong, but what can I do
I love you so
Well I’d done coke a few times
So I couldn’t see the harm
And to get my little Danny back
I’d have cut off my right arm
So I flew off to Lima
Where I’s picked up by a man
Who drove me up into the mountains
Just the way we’d planned
Paid the money, made the deal
Put the coke inside my case
Under a false lining
I’d been told they’d never trace
Now the check in girl is smiling
‘Passport and ticket Sir’
My mouth was dry, my body shook
My mind was in a whirl
Just one more step and I’ll be through
Then I’ll be home to be with you
I know what I’m doing’s wrong
But what can I do I love you so
And then I heard a voice behind
Sir can I check your baggage please
And when I saw the sniffer dog
My guts fell to my knees
The judge gave me twenty years
As far as I could tell
And when they took me to the prison
I thought I’d died and gone to hell
It’s been four long years now
I don’t think I’ll make it through
And as I lie here in this prison cell
All I think about is you
Just four when I last saw you
Now you’ll be nearly eight
I hope your schoolwork’s going well
And you’ve got lots of mates
Be good to your mother
And treat her with respect
I wonder if you’d know me
If we ever met
REFRAIN
Just one more step
I’d have been through
I’d have been home
To be with you
I know what I did’s wrong
But what could I do
I love you so
