All I Remember - Christy Moore

I was lured by the rocking horse

Sweets and the bualadh bos

Fifty wild boys to a room

Sing lámh, lámh eile, the dish ran away with the spoon

Black shoes and stockings for those who say don’t

Blue is the colour outside

God made the world

The snake tempted Eve and she died

Wild Christian brothers sharpening their leathers

Learn it by heart, that’s the rule

All I remember is dreading September and school

And they made me for better or worse

The fool that I am or the wise man I’ll be

And they gave me their blessings or curse

It wasn’t their fault I was me …

Not the one that you see

The priest in confession condemns my obsession

With thoughts that I do not invite

I mumble and stutter

He slams down the shutter

Goodnight — (Good night to you too, Father)

Stainless as steel

Lord, you know how I feel

Someone shoot me while my soul is clear

I don’t think I’ll last

But my vow to abstain was sincere

Arch-confraternity men to the fight

Raise up your banners on high

Searching for grace

Securing my place

When I die

Oh God, he kept a very close eye on me

Hung round my bed in the darkness, he spied on me

Caught me in the long grass so often, he died on me…

Ballrooms of romance in Salthill or Mallow

I stood like John Wayne by the wall

Lined up like cattle, we waited to do battle and fall

You can’t wine and dine her in an old Morris Minor

So ask her before it’s too late

I danced on girls' toes — accepted rejection as my fate

Drink was my saviour, it made me much braver

But I couldn’t hold it too well

I slipped on the coach and ruined my approach as I fell