Lyrics The Body of an American - The Pogues

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'
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 home where his father’s laid
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 — correction this line
Starts with by not at 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
He was often heard to 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
Unless 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 amerikay
The calling of the rosary
Spanish winde 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
I always did and i always will
Fare thee well gone away
There’s nothing left to say
'cept to say adieu
To your eyes as blue
As the water in the bay
And to big jim dwyer
The man of wire
Who was often heard to say
I’m a free born man of the usa