Dubliners The Mero Lyrics

Somebody under the bed, whoever can it be?
I feel so very nervous, I call for Joanee.
Joanee lights the candle, but there's nobody there.
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai, and out goes she.

Skipping rope still turning, children at their play,
In and out of Clarendon Street, in and out to pray.
I haven't prayed for twenty years, or sung a happy song,
Since praying went with innocence, and the devil played along.

And we all went up to the Mero, hey there! Who's your man?
It's only Johnny '40 coats', sure he's a desperate man.
Bang, bang shoots the buses with his golden key.
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai, and out goes she.

Me father was a stater, and me mother loved a tan,
She loved her Hafner's sausages and her soldier fancy man
Norah's up in Jacobs, and Mary's on the town,
And I joined the transport union, when they said my nose was brown.

And we all went up to the Mero, hey there! Who's your man ?
It's Alfie Byrne out walking, sure he's a decent man.
Bang, bang shoots the buses with his golden key.
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai, and out goes she.

I've a tanner for the Mero, and me confo money's hid,
If Mary's in the family way, she can blame the Cisco kid.
I'll be langers in the morning, me longers need a patch.
Ah, Jesus! There's Con Martin, I hope he has won the match.

Me uncle had a wolfhound, that never had to pee,
But Harry Lemon s_____ed it down on Eden quay.
Now I have me primo, and me scapulars are blue, f
For helping the black babies, and Dolly Fossett too.

And we all went up to the Mero, hey there! Who's your man?
It's Brendan Behan out walking, sure he's a ginger man.
Bang, bang shoots the buses with his golden key.
Hey! Hi! Diddeleedai, and out goes she.

It's true that Dublin's changing since the pillar was blown down,
By the winds of violence that are b_____ing up the town.
We used to solve a difference with a diggin' match and a jar,
But now they all play "bang, bang", that's going too bleedin' far.

And we all go up to the Mero, hey there! Who's your man?
It's only me guardian angel, get a large one for your man.
There's no use bleedin' rushin', sure, so now it's the holy hour,
A plenery indulgence and another baby Power.

Notes:
The Mero, cinema in Mary St Dublin "The Mero" is slang for Mary.
Clarendon St, Church in Dublin.
Johnny Forty Coats, Tramp who used to wander Dublin Streets, wore number of coats.
Bang Bang, another tramp in Dublin used to point at things as if to shoot and go "Bang Bang".
Hafners, famous sausage makers in Dublin.
Jacobs, Buiscuit Makers in Dublin.
Langers, Very Drunk.
Longers, Long Trousers.
The Pillar, Nelson's Pillar stood in O Connell St in Dublin until blown up in the sixties by the IRA, now the site of The Spire.
Hairy Lemon, another tramp in Dublin, named because of long beard.
Dolly Fosset's, Brothel in Dublin.
A Jar, a drink.
Pleanary Indulgence, Reward from Catholic Church for good works.