Over in McCann's there's a grand type of danceband
A-playing and they're spinnin' out the Continental Ceili
They're comin' in their cars from the bars over in Leitir and Killane just to hear the famous Gunther Reynolds playing
Out the Star of Munster with Hans O'Donoghue
Neatly tappin' out a tango on the spoons
Such commotion will act like a lotion on the struttin'
At the Continental Céilí tonight

Wolfgang's playing on the comb, someone shouts at him go home
Klaus is playin' a slow air on the bodhrán
Quinn from Corofin his fiddle tucked beneath his chin
Ssh! He's going to play the Bucks of Oranmore now
And an old-fashioned lady begins to sing a song
Ah! Lads a bit of order over there
Clarinbridge for the chowder, keep your powder dry
For the Continental Céilí tonight

Ciarán closing his eyes pretends he's in disguise
When he sees and old flame comin' over
He's singing for the Swedes in their tweeds doin' all he can to please - the night's at such a delicate stage
Later on he'll give an audience to one of them or two
He'll sing the the Dyin' Swan to touch their feelings
Tonight's his night and tomorrow night will be just the same

Ada let me out to the bar where the boys are goin' far
And they're spinnin' out the Continental Ceili
Never mind the liquor, the music's in my soul
So long as I can hear the band a-playin'
The pipes and the flutes and the fiddles are in tune
Whoo! I'd love to meet a European girl
Ada now me head is goin' light and the band is playin' tight At the Continental Céilí tonight
All the publicans are there, 'tis like a hirin' fair
Tryin' to figure out how much McCann is makin'
To keep their pubs outta Stubbs they're lashin' out big subs
In a burst of fierce anticipation
Moguls from Muckhill are starin' at the till
Tryin' to get the lowdown on the line-up
They'll be buyin' free porter for the members of the band
At the Continental Céilí tonight