[Verse 1]
Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again
Five hundred years like gelignite
Have blown us all to hell (To hell)
What savior rests while on his cross we die
Forgotten freedom burns
Has the shepherd led his lambs astray
To the bigot and the gun

[Chorus]
Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again
'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies

[Verse 2]
Well, I watch and stare as Roisin's eyes
Turn a darker shade of red
And the bullet with the sniper lie
In their bloody gutless cell
Must we starve on crumbs from long ago
Through bars these men made steel
Is it a great or little thing we fought
Knelt the conscience blessed to kill
[Chorus]
Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again
'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies

[Bridge]
Ah, but maybe it's the way we were taught
Ah, but maybe it's the way we thought
But a smile never grins without tears to begin
For each kiss is a cry we all lost
Though nothing is left to gain
But for the banshee that stole the grave
'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies, alright

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3]
I sit in and dwell on faces past
Like memories seem to fade
No color left but black and white
And soon we'll all turn grey
But may these shadows rise to walk again
With lessons truly learnt
When the blossom flowers in each our hearts
Shall beat a brand-new flame (New flame)
[Chorus]
Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again
'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies
'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies
Singin' drunken lullabies