Recalls his childhood, less happy than sad
He the toddler, with Mom and with Dad
They loved him dearly, all cheery it seemed
Then Pop turned his interests to Jim Beam
Mom not pleased, restraint does not rule
Dad drinks while his kid is away at school
Son had no idea of what Mom went through
His father spilling his guts like beef stew
One eve boy returns; finds Mom all alone
Pop at Duffy’s Tavern; getting stoned
When he came back, all Hell broke loose
Beat up his wife, made no excuse
Once day breaks, stressed mother tells son
“Go to the cellar, hide whiskey; hide rum”
Kid sneaked downstairs; did as was told
T’was really a move that was very bold
All of a sudden, gets caught by his Dad
Sot pulls out a rifle; says “You are had!”
Kid reacts fast—old man authentic!
Jerks it from his hands; Mom is frantic
Daughter gets married; Pop turns sour
At local bars, spends many an hour
Returns to the garage, face red hot
Half-pints of whiskey and smokes a lot
Gets worse; Old Man slaps kid around
Not for long, son is muscle bound.
Fears kid and says “stick with the books”
School his bête noir; drinks with Pat Brooks.
Gives son a lift, one day after work
Dad is not well; lacks color, lacks perk
The parish priest is called; gives the Last Rites
Dad coughs and dies on the last of his nights.
Looks back at Dad; glad he intervened
But try as he might, no effects were seen
Gone at fifty, a drunk and chain smoker
Hoped kid would turn out like Bram Stoker
Feels better now, got it off of his chest
Advice to young ones “Your parents the best?
Keep them happy; if that’s in your power
—One never knows the day or the hour!”.
He the toddler, with Mom and with Dad
They loved him dearly, all cheery it seemed
Then Pop turned his interests to Jim Beam
Mom not pleased, restraint does not rule
Dad drinks while his kid is away at school
Son had no idea of what Mom went through
His father spilling his guts like beef stew
One eve boy returns; finds Mom all alone
Pop at Duffy’s Tavern; getting stoned
When he came back, all Hell broke loose
Beat up his wife, made no excuse
Once day breaks, stressed mother tells son
“Go to the cellar, hide whiskey; hide rum”
Kid sneaked downstairs; did as was told
T’was really a move that was very bold
All of a sudden, gets caught by his Dad
Sot pulls out a rifle; says “You are had!”
Kid reacts fast—old man authentic!
Jerks it from his hands; Mom is frantic
Daughter gets married; Pop turns sour
At local bars, spends many an hour
Returns to the garage, face red hot
Half-pints of whiskey and smokes a lot
Gets worse; Old Man slaps kid around
Not for long, son is muscle bound.
Fears kid and says “stick with the books”
School his bête noir; drinks with Pat Brooks.
Gives son a lift, one day after work
Dad is not well; lacks color, lacks perk
The parish priest is called; gives the Last Rites
Dad coughs and dies on the last of his nights.
Looks back at Dad; glad he intervened
But try as he might, no effects were seen
Gone at fifty, a drunk and chain smoker
Hoped kid would turn out like Bram Stoker
Feels better now, got it off of his chest
Advice to young ones “Your parents the best?
Keep them happy; if that’s in your power
—One never knows the day or the hour!”.
