C
I was lured by the rocking horse
C
Sweets and the bualadh bos
F                    C
Fifty wild boys to a room
Am                        G                      C
Sing lamh, lamh eile, the dish ran away with the spoon
C
Black shoes and stockings for those who say don't
F                     C
Blue is the colour outside
Am        
God made the world
    G                         C
The snake tempted Eve and she died
Em                      Am
Wild Christian brothers sharpening their leathers
G                             C
Learn it by heart, that's the rule
C                 G                      C
All I remember is dreading September and school


[Chorus]

         G                     C
And they made me for better or worse
    F           C         Am            D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
         G                          C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
   F            C           Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G                    C
Not the one that you see


[Verse 2]

    C
The priest in confession condemns my obsession
     F                        C
With thoughts that I do not invite
Am
I mumble and stutter
G
He slams down the shutter
C
Goodnight - (Good night to you too, Father)
C
Stainless as steel
                     C
Lord, you know how I feel
        F                         C
Someone shoot me while my soul is clear
  Am
I don't think I'll last
       G                  C
But my vow to abstain was sincere
Em                 Am
Arch-confraternity men to the fight
G                         C
Raise up your banners on high
Am
Searching for grace
G                        C
Securing my place when I die


[Chorus]

         G                     C
And they made me for better or worse
    F           C         Am            D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
         G                          C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
   F            C           Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G                    C
Not the one that you see


[Bridge]

(This part is half-spoken, half-sung - you'll just need to listen to the song.)
G
Oh God, he kept a very close eye on me
C
Hung round my bed in the darkness, he spied on me
F
Caught me in the long grass so often, he died on me....


[Verse 3]

C
Ballrooms of romance in Salthill or Mallow
F                              C
I stood like John Wayne by the wall
Am                       G                       C
Lined up like cattle, we waited to do battle and fall
C
Ah you can't wine and dine her in an old Morris Minor

   F                       C
So ask her before it's too late
  Am                      G                        C
I danced on girls' toes - accepted rejection as my fate
Em                       Am
Drink was my saviour, it made me much braver
    G                      C
But I couldn't hold it too well
   Am                      G                       C
I slipped on the coach and ruined my approach as I fell


[Chorus]

         G                     C
And they made me for better or worse
    F           C         Am            D
The fool that I am or the wise man I'll be
         G                          C
And they gave me their blessings or curse
   F            C           Am
It wasn't their fault I was me ...
G                    C
Not the one that you see


[Outro]

G
Oh God, he kept a very close eye on me...