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