[Verse 1]
There were only five there
With their hat-in-their-hand prayers
Towards Glasnevin green in the rain
As we sat in the béal bocht
Eating our soup stock
Erasing our dreams as a game
Arguing verses as to whose was the best
And who were the five when they laid him to rest
[Chorus]
And I was wondering what it would take
To make you break down and cry
All has changed now, all has changed
The curse is wondering why
Still I am wondering
When I hear the children sing
[Verse 2]
In those olden days
In those golden days
When we were all in love
With all that was witching
And all that was winning
With women
Writing those vain verses that students write for lovers
But after the wine comes it's vinegar, brother
[Chorus]
And I was wondering what it would take
To make you break down and cry
All has changed now, all has changed
The curse is wondering why
Still I am wondering
When I hear the children sing
[Verse 3]
In those final days
In those banal days
When reality caught us dreaming
And humbled by hunger
And that daily
Asking for bread or a stone
Writing our verses in vain with desire
The nurses sweep into that rewriting fire
[Chorus]
And I was wondering what it would take
To make you break down and cry
All has changed now, all has changed
The curse is wondering why
Still I am wondering
When I hear the children sing
[Outro]
One potato, two potato, three potato, four
What we gonna do when there isn't any more?
An Béal Bocht was written by Jack Hardy.