The Body of An American

The cadillac stood by the house

And the yanks they were within

And the tinker boys they hissed advice

'Hot-wire her with a pin' “

Then we turned and shook as we had a look

In the room where the dead man lay

So big Jim Dwyer made his last trip

To the shores where his fathers lay

But fifteen minutes later

We had our first taste of whiskey

There was uncles giving lectures

On ancient Irish history

The men all started telling jokes

And the women they got frisky

By five o'clock in the evening

Every bastard there was piskey

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

Farewell to New York City boys

To Boston and PA

He took them out

With a well-aimed clout

and they often heard him say

I'm a free born man of the USA

He fought the champ in Pittsburgh

And he slashed him to the ground

He took on Tiny Tartanella

And it only went one round

He never had no time for reds

For drink or dice or whores

But he never threw a fight

When the fight was right

So they sent him to the war

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

With a sláinte Joe and an Erin go

My love's in Amerikay

They're calling out the rosary

Spanish wine from far away

I'm a free born man of the USA

This morning on the harbour

When I said goodbye to you

I remember how I swore

That I'd come back to you one day

And as the sunset came to meet

The evening on the hill

I told you I'd always love you

I always did and I always will

Fare thee well gone away

There's nothing left to say

But to say adieu

To your eyes as blue

As the water in the bay

And to big Jim Dwyer

The man of war

Who was often heard to say

I'm a free born man of the USA