verse 1
C
I was lured by the rocking horse
C
Sweets and the bualadh bos
F C
Fifty wild boys to a room
Am G C
Sing lamh, lamh eile, the dish ran away with the spoon
C
Black shoes and stockings for those who say don't
F C
Blue is the colour outside
Am
God made the world
G C
The snake tempted Eve and she died
Em Am
Wild Christian brothers sharpening their leathers
G C
Learn it by heart, that's the rule
C G C
All I remember is dreading September and school
G C
And they made me for better or worse
F C Am D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
G C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
F C Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G C
Not the one that you see
verse 2
C
The priest in confession condemns my obsession
F C
With thoughts that I do not invite
Am
I mumble and stutter
G
He slams down the shutter
C
Goodnight - (Good night to you too, Father)
C
Stainless as steel
C
Lord, you know how I feel
F C
Someone shoot me while my soul is clear
Am
I don't think I'll last
G C
But my vow to abstain was sincere
Em Am
Arch-confraternity men to the fight
G C
Raise up your banners on high
Am
Searching for grace
G C
Securing my place when I die
G C
And they made me for better or worse
F C Am D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
G C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
F C Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G C
Not the one that you see
Bridge
(This part is half-spoken, half-sung - you'll just need to listen to the song.)
G
Oh God, he kept a very close eye on me
C
Hung round my bed in the darkness, he spied on me
F
Caught me in the long grass so often, he died on me....
verse 3
C
Ballrooms of romance in Salthill or Mallow
F C
I stood like John Wayne by the wall
Am G C
Lined up like cattle, we waited to do battle and fall
C
Ah you can't wine and dine her in an old Morris Minor
F C
So ask her before it's too late
Am G C
I danced on girls' toes - accepted rejection as my fate
Em Am
Drink was my saviour, it made me much braver
G C
But I couldn't hold it too well
Am G C
I slipped on the coach and ruined my approach as I fell
G C
And they made me for better or worse
F C Am D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
G C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
F C Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G C
Not the one that you see
Outro
G
Oh God, he kept a very close eye on me...