DANGEROUSLY SOBER (Paul O Brien)
From a story I read in an English paper a few years ago, and from a remark by a friend on a recent visit to Dublin, thanks Mary!
He took a G and T for breakfast, and skipped the orange juice
Stepped out down the high street, jacket hanging loose
Slipped in for a quick one, at he local Hare and Hound
Someone asked him how he was, he didn’t hear a sound
He was stone cold sober, drinking since the dawn
On a binge since Friday, still going strong
Along the bars in Highgate, down through Camden town
No-one in their right minds, would push this Paddy ‘round
STONE COLD SOBER, TUGGING AT THE REINS
STONE COLD SOBER, POISON IN HIS VEINS
STONE COLD SOBER, STANDING IN THE RAIN
STONE COLD SOBER, WAITING FOR THAT TRAIN
His wife just done a runner, with a double-glazing man
She took the three kids with her, he didn’t give a damn
She’d always been the apple, of her father’s eye
A Paddy’s just not good enough, no Irish need apply
STONE COLD SOBER….
He polished off the last one, told the barman “Thanks a Lot”
Put his wallet on the counter, and said “That’s all I’ve got”
Headed out the swinging doors, towards the railway line
The twelve fifteen was coming; for once it was on time
He won’t go back to Achill, he couldn’t live in shame
While his family lives in England, embarrassed by his name
Stepping from the platform, and out onto the rails
He caught the twelve fifteen, en-route to Cardiff Wales