[First part is a poem written by Brendan Kennelly and it is called "Clearing A Space".]

[The song was written by Bono and Simon Carmody, and performed by Ronnie Drew.]


I met her up on Leeson Street of a Tuesday afternoon 

In Summer's fallen colours, sulking back to school 

I asked her would she linger, I asked her would she stay

Would she keep a man in company, drinking in the day? 


Drinking, Drinking

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, Drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


She was almost a woman, she was going on sixteen 

She asked me to go walking, In Saint Stephen's Green

She said I love the sunshine, and to hear the children play. 

But I won't be distracted when I'm drinking in the day. 


With her flashing eyes and milk white lies she looked like a song 

Like the ghost of a woman that first made me go wrong

She said I'll have a drink with you I said you'll have to pay 

For a comprehensive education 

Drinking in the day


Drinking, Drinking

Drinking and not thinking 

Drinking, Drinking

We'll go drinking in the day 


If her mother could have seen us on that bright November day 

Botticelli and his angel perambulating Ormand Quay 

A drunken blessed virgin, me rhetorious and gay 

Bestowing ancient wisdom as to what made me this way 


Deny your friends and family 

To serve you must betray 

Break and enter heaven 

S teal but never save 

Squander every penny 

Empty every heart 

Travel every darkened road 

Never finish what you start 

Always talk to strangers 

Make love with whom you may 

For God will find good company 

for your drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking and not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


So spend your youth on poetry, and spend your cash at play 

Each line upon my face is for a girl who went away 

A kiss, a song, are fleeting things and fame will always stray 

So I'll tell the truth, the best spent youth, is the one you give away 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking, drinking 

We'll go drinking in the day 


Drinking, drinking 

Drinking... not thinking 

Drinking...