The year is 1915
When Regret won the derby
And the war was on

They say
It must have struck a vain
The bullet lodged in his brain
Oh, and he'll never be the same

Paul Kern can't sleep
He can't afford his wisky peet
And Paul Kern can't sleep a wink

The year 1930
Paul made the dailies
For 15 years he'd been awake
And it turned international fame

And by 1945
30 years without shuteye
Paul was still alive
Then fatigue had finally set in

'Cause Paul Kern can't sleep
He can't afford his wisky peet
And Paul Kern can't sleep a wink

Well Paul Kern can't sleep
For fifteen years he can't counted sheep
And Paul Kern can't sleep a wink, a wink, a wink