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 men lay So big Jim Dwyer made his last trip To the shores where his father's laid 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, going 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 we 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 And he never threw a fight until the fight was right So they sent him to the war Fare the well, gone away There's nothing left to say With a slainte Joe and Erin go My love's in Ameri-kay The calling of 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 I'm a free born man of the USA I'm a free born man of the USA --- The Body of An American - The Pogues