They sent him to Asia to fight in a war He came back home crazy and asking, What for? They had him committed, oh, medals and all To a mental hosipital with rubber walls.
They cut off the funding, oh, they cut off the lights He hit the street runnin' that cold winter night Now the streets are the only place he can call home He seems oh, so lonely, but he's never alone.
He lies there holding his wild irish rose This crazy old fool in the smelly old clothes He could have had something much better, God knows Than a half-empty bottle of Wild Irish Rose.
A baby named Scarlet with laughing blue eyes (Spoken) Has been in his wallet, ah! way back since '65 (Sang) So much was forgotten, oh, so far back in time Way down in the bottom of a river of wine.
(Spoken) You know, they found him at Clarkstreet, West 25th They can't even find a hearbeat, Lord, his fingers are stiff Just like they're all frozen, he's holding her tight (Sang) But the habit, oh, it's broken, this is Roses' last night.
He lies there holding his Wild Irish Rose But his soul's in a place where a real hero goes Now he's got something better, much better, God knows Than a half-empty bottle of Wild Irish Rose...