Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear

No one comes near

Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there

What does he care?

The priest writes sermons to speak at church but nobody will listen or even come to.

He stays up late sewing his socks alone.

The song is saying why does he bother sewing his socks and writing the sermons when nobody cares if his clothes are ripped and nobody will listen to him speak anyways