A Criminal of Me lyrics

[Verse 1]
My great granddad was a king, a monarch stout and noble
He surveyed this land so green, and he said "She's fair and humble"
As far as the eye can see, from Carrauntoohil to Giant's Causeway Was ours until they went and made a criminal of me

[Verse 2]
Many a Celtic head had rolled and rolled upon the hillside
And they bathed their horses hooves in Hibernian blood and their hide
In exile they did flee, and set up a church and home there
'Til the landlord and the bailiff made it criminality

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And on the road they came to run and run until the runnin's done
Run far away from fettered chain, the land was ours to barter
We succ*mb from sweat and strain, and look they're right behind again
If they catch me boys, I know they'll make a criminal of me

[Chorus 1]
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Wandering forever, hungering eternally
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Run, run, before they make a criminal of thee

[Verse 3]
Across the sea they sailed, to a land both bright and noble
For they'd watched their neighbors starve and the bloodline as it fumbled
As they reached the safer side, old Papa said to Jimmy
To try and live a life so they'd not make a criminal of he

[Verse 4]
"Go and be alert," sad Da, "do not perish for the gentry."
Though poor but proud was he, whenever they called discretely
Well he'd smash their faces in and in gaol he died poorly
"But," he said, "don't let them try and make a criminal of thee"

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And on the road they came to run and run until the runnin's done
Run far away from fettered chain, the land was ours to barter
We succ*mb from sweat and strain, and look they're right behind again
If they catch me boys, I know they'll make a criminal of thee

[Chorus 2]
A criminal of thee, a criminal of thee
Wandering forever, hungering eternally
A criminal of thee, a criminal of thee
Run, run, before they make a criminal of thee
[Chorus 1]
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Wandering forever, hungering eternally
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Run, run, before they make a criminal of me

[Verse 5]
Oh, now my boss he steps so gay, so gaily up the street
While I dull the pain in pubs and still can't afford to eat
He is dashing, he is fancy and he'll never want, you see
Evan as the factory shuts his shoes reflect the criminal in me

[Verse 6]
Violent and drunk now in the street with nothing to sustain me
I'm gonna die here in this hole, the kids I can't take care of with me
But it must be taught to let the blame and hatred out of their heads
For anger and danger make you just another pathetic, drunken, violent paddy dead

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And on the road they came to run and run until the runnin's done
Run far away from fettered chain, the land was ours to barter
We succ*mb from sweat and strain, and look they're right behind again
If they catch me boys, I know they'll make a criminal of me

[Chorus 1]
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Wandering forever, hungering eternally
A criminal of me, a criminal of me
Run, run, before they make a criminal of thee
[Outro]
Run, run, before they make a criminal of thee
Run, run, before they make a criminal of thee