In tattered dress with shattered smile my mummy danced the two-step.
My daddy wore an overcoat and walked two steps behind.
I grew up wearing hand-me-downs; a patchwork dress and paper crown,
and nestled in my eiderdown I dreamed we danced the two-step.

    "Now smile little princess don’t you frown
     mumma’s gonna stitch you a new ball gown
     and sell her diamond wedding ring
     to buy you silver fairy wings
     a wooden puppet on a string
     so you can dance the two-step."

In tattered dress with shattered smile my mummy danced the two-step.
My daddy wore his overcoat and left us both behind.
But you would dance on silver strings and I would fly on fairy wings
to encore on the dusty floor and dream we danced the two-step.

     "Now rock-a-bye baby on your eiderdown
      daddy’s seeking work in Durham town.
      Go find your puppet on silver strings
      together you can laugh and sing
      you’ll kiss a frog and marry a King
      and you will dance the two-step."

     "The wind is a-blowin’
       the cradle must fall,
       so hush little princess stand up tall."

In tattered dress with shattered smile my mummy danced the two-step.
My daddy wore his overcoat and left us both behind.
Now mummy lies beneath the ground in patchwork dress and paper crown
and nestled in my eiderdown I dream we dance the two-step.