[Intro: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, tin whistle and mandolin racing] Hup [Verse 1: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, rough and racing] Last bus gone from the Corner House door Halloween night and I'm a pint past four Rain coming sideways and the road's a mile black Black horse standing there with no saddle on his back Eyes like the yellow of a fog lamp's glow Grinning like a fella with a secret to show Mammy always said, don't you ride that thing I said Mammy, I'm forty, and the horse can sing [Pre-Chorus: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, building, accordion pushing] He knelt in the puddle and I swung my leg Off like the cork out of a whiskey keg [Chorus: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, full band, whistle on top] Get on the horse, the horse knows the way Over the hedges and he won't let you stay Out on the road where the old ones say Get on the horse, the horse knows the way [Verse 2: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, faster, hooves on the snare] Over a ditch and a wall and a gate Through Father Gleeson's garden, sorry, Father, it's late Leapt the Shannon at Athlone like a skip on a stone Guards in the squad car gave up and went home Three counties gone and the moon going down Galway, Clare and a field outside town Hanging on his mane and I'm screaming the tune Every cow in Connacht looking up at the moon [Pre-Chorus: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, building, accordion pushing] He knelt in the puddle and I swung my leg Off like the cork out of a whiskey keg [Chorus: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, full band, whistle on top] Get on the horse, the horse knows the way Over the hedges and he won't let you stay Out on the road where the old ones say Get on the horse, the horse knows the way [Break: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, reel break, tin whistle and mandolin at double speed] Hup, hup, hup [Verse 3: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, roaring, guitars crashing back] Sun coming up on the Kerry road Horse slows down to a walk with his load Stops at a door with a red-painted frame Mammy's own house, and he knew the name Wallet in my pocket and my head stone clear Not a scratch, not a hangover, not a drop of beer Turned to say thanks and the yard was bare Just a hoofprint smoking in the cold morning air [Chorus: Irish Celtic-punk male lead, full band, whistle on top] Get on the horse, the horse knows the way Over the hedges and he won't let you stay Out on the road where the old ones say Get on the horse, the horse knows the way [Outro: Irish Celtic-punk male lead] Same time next year [End]
