All I Remember

I was lured by the rockin' horse, sweets and the búl-a-bos,
50 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, and 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 and curse
It wasn't their fault it was me, the one that you see
The priest in confession condemns my obsession
with thoughts that I didn't invite
I mumble and stutter he slams down the shutter, goodnight
Stainless as steel you know how I feel
someone shoot me while my soul is clean
I don't think I'll last, my vow to abstain is obscene
Arch-Confraternity men to the fight
raise up your banners on high
Searching for grace securing my place when I die
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 and curse
It wasn't their fault it was me, the one that you see
God kept a very close eye on me
All round my bed in the darkness he spied on me
Caught me in the long grass so often he died for me
Ballrooms of Romance in Salthill and Mallow
I stood like John Wayne by the wall
Lined up like cattle we wait to do battle and fall
you can't wine and dine her in an old Morris Minor
but ask her before it's too late
I danced on her toes, accepted rejection as my fate
Drink was my saviour it made me much braver,
but I couldn't hold it too well
Threw up on the coach, it ruined my approach when I fell
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 and curse
It wasn't their fault it was me, the one that you see
God kept a very close eye on me
God, He kept a very close eye on me
God, She kept a very close eye on me