Wild Irish Rose

They sent him to Asia to fight in a war He came back home crazy and asking, "What for?" They had him committed oh, medals and all To a mental hospital with rubber walls They cut off the funding oh, they cut off the lights He hit the street runnin' that cold winter night Now the streets are the only place he can call home He seems oh so lonely, but he's never alone He lies there holding his Wild Irish Rose This crazy old fool in the smelly old clothes He could have had something much better, God knows Than a half-empty bottle of Wild Irish Rose A baby named Scarlet with laughing blue eyes Has been in his wallet, ah way back since '65 So much was forgotten, oh so far back in time Way down in the bottom of a river of wine You know, they found him at Clark street, West 25th They can't even find a heartbeat Lord, his fingers are stiff Just like they're all frozen, he's holding her tight But the habit oh, it's broken, this is Roses' last night He lies there holding his Wild Irish Rose But his soul's in a place where a real hero goes Now he's got something better much better, God knows Than a half-empty bottle of Wild Irish Rose