He was raised in the English way
His daddy taught him respect, he taught him how to pray
They sent him off to boarding school
Where he learned how to live by someone else's ruleAnd he went to confession
He went to confession
Holy father wash my sins away
He went to confession, he went to confession
Mother Mary take the pain awayHe read letters from home
At night in his bed
And got this uneasy feeling
When his father saidFear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boy
The fear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boyHe bought his daddy's car and he learned to drive
And when he left school he got a nine to five
He met the girl and he got his spouse
And they had the child and they got the houseAnd he went to confession
He went to confession
Holy Father wash my sins away
He went to confession, he went to confession
Mother Mary take the pain awayHe loved his son
And he helped him build walls and fronts
He knew he'd heard it before
Someone had said it onceFear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boy
The fear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boyHe raised his son in the English way
And he taught him respect, he taught him how to pray
He sent him off to boarding school
Where he learned how to live by someone else's rulesAnd he went to confession
He went to confession
Holy father wash my sins away
He went to confession, he went to confession
Mother Mary take the pain awayIt must be something much deeper
Than fear or pain
Another child learns a pattern
He won't break the chainFear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boy
The fear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise a good boy
The fear of God and the feel of the rod
Will raise the next boy