We always sing, even when were losing
'Cos Dublin's drone is hard enough
especially when you're down and you're boozing
We sing the Oul' Triangle and then the Tommy Ryan
'Cos all the world's a jail and we can't remember why

Why we agreed to live and lie
in embers of a cold old fire nobody remembers
They hand the ashes back to me
down the button factory, we're cattle at the stall

We look for signs that Dublin's heart's still beating
That concrete and glass and peelers and mass
they haven't stopped the people from screaming
Being trapped by all the cameras
you're inclined to stay at home
And forget some songs were written
to remind you you weren't born

Born to live and lie and die in embers
of a cold old fire nobody remembers
They hand the ashes back to me
down the button factory, we're cattle at the stall

We see the cracks under the foundation
Smouldering on the faces of the people
on the drip of isolation
We hear the sounds come streaming across the crackling air
The broken words of swine who would tell us that we were

Born to live and lie and die in embers
of a cold old fire nobody remembers
They hand the ashes back to me down the button factory
were cattle at the stall
And when did we agree to live
and lie and die in embers
of a cold old fire nobody remembers?
They hand the ashes back to me down the button factory
we're cattle at the stall