The Drunk (Black Dog Island 2017)
Everyday in Derry City I see more drunks in the town. In my home town of Dublin it’s no different. Alcohol is an addiction and like any addiction it takes it’s toil eventually killing the person affected. I’ve know and met a few friends in the past who died of alcohol addiction some who actually drank themselves to death, others who committed suicide and took the easy way out for most of them committing suicide was jumping of the bridge totally out of the head with alcohol.
I knew a few guys from the town who had a family and who fought the addiction but both of them ended up in the Foyle. I remember sitting down with some of them on Christmas giving them a few pound as they were mostly well educated guys who just had a story to tell and who had lost their way in life. I dedicate the song to them.
Lyrics:
KEY: 2ND FRET AM
IN THE CREGGAN I WAS BORN A YOUNG BROTHER I HAD ONE AND WE GREW UP IN THE HARDER PART OF TOWN. TWO YOUNG LADS FULL OF FUN A NEW JOB I JUST BEGUN AND LABOURING I WORKED TO EARN A POUND.
I GRAFTED HARD EACH DAY MIXING CONCRETE IN WITH CLAY HODDED MORTOR UP THE SCAFFOLDS WITH ONE HAND
MY LUCK RAN OUT ONE DAY WHEN THE WORK ALL MOVED AWAY MOVED AWAY AND TO THE STREETS I TOOK AS YOU MIGHT UNDERSTAND
NOW MY CLOTHES ARE RIPPED AND TORN MY FEET ARE WEATHER WORN BUT MY SPRITE IS ALIVE AND I AM SWEET... A CARBOAD BOX MY BED OLD NEWSPAPERS FOR MY HEAD MY SHOES AND SOCKS LEFT ON TO WARM MY FEET
IF YOU PASS ME AND I’M DRUNK THEN MOVE ME ON JUST ONCE DON’T LABEL ME THE DRUNK DOWN ON THE STREET. I’M AN EDUCATED SOUL I’VE JUST LOST MY LIVING GOALS SO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY NEXT TIME WE MEET.
MIDDLE EIGHT INSTRUMENTAL
ALL THE PROMISES I MADE SOME DEBTS I NEVER PAID I BEGGED STOLE AND BORROWED ALL MY LIFE
THERE NOTHING HERE FOR ME ALL RESPECT WAS LOST THE DAY I CHOOSE THE BOTTLE OVER MY GOOD WIFE.
I’VE BEEN DRINKING EVERY DAY AND I KNOW I’VE LOST MY WAY MY BODIES DYING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. DON’T PITY ME TO SHAME JUST GIVE ME SOME SPARE CHANGE YOU SEE I FUNCTION BETTER WITH A BOTTLE UP TO MY MOUTH.
FULL CHORUS
IF I JUMP THAT BRIDGE TODAY MY GOD WHAT WILL HE SAY ME CHOOSING SUCH AN INTERESTING LIFE. I'LL BE HAVING NO REGRETS MY LIFE WAS SUCH A MESS AND SAVING ME WAS GONE BEYOND THE FIGHT
IF I REACH THE OTHER SIDE AND MY JUDGEMENTS SET ASIDE I’LL TELL MY GOD YOU HELPED ME IN MY WAY
AS I PASS THE PERLY GATES I WILL SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT I’M JUMPING AND I’LL BID YOU GOOD NIGHT
