Christy Moore - Encore lyrics

When I first heard Tommy Makem and the Clancy's my future it was sealed I was bitten by the ballad bug and since then the wound has never healed When I got my first guitar my fingers bled until I learned a chord or two I pulled on my aran sweater, wrote my Ma a goodbye letter And started throwing shapes in O'Donoghue's I played cabaret in Bundoran, marquees for Father Horan And I once stood in for Johnny McEvoy From Berlin to San Francisco I've gone on before the disco Lashing out the four green fields of Athenry Mountbellew was like purgatory but Tulsk was just like being in hell I've received my education in the lounges of the nation After 25 years I am doing well If I get an encore I go home feeling like a king It's a two way situation I get a lot of pleasure when I sing I've played every lounge in Ireland from Dingle right up to Donegal I've sung Nancy Spain on stages Where no other ballad singers play at all From the rising sun in Brownstown to the Blue Lagoon above in Sligo Town Ballymurphy and the Bogside, Ballinamore And even once in Ballinasloe I was playing in the Meeting place when half the Special Branch came in the door They were looking for an outlaw He stole their trousers back in 1984 They started listening to my songs and hung around till after the show If I ever need a taxi plate or a ma**age at a special rate They're the boys to tell me where to go