Bodhráns on the Brain Songtext
von Black 47

I met her at a session, she was looking for lessons
In how to make a bodhrán, I told her to skin a goat
And take it back to my place where after a couple pints
Oh, oh, I taught her everything I know

About bodhráns, that didn′t take very long
But we hammered away relentlessly until the dawn
She moved in the following Sunday, I couldn't get up on Monday
Wrist action, stupefaction, bodhráns on the brain

But now she lives in Spiddal
Oh, hey diddle diddle
With an alcoholic bodhrán maker
Teaching her everything he knows

"Ah, it′s all in the wrist action
Grab a hoult of it and feel the traction."
She left me here distracted and insane
With all them bodhráns on the brain


Worn out and tired, exhausted by desire
That bodhrán was killing me, I was fading away to smoke
She rose early in the morning, and without a word of warning
She'd be banging like a maniac, it was gone beyond a joke

"No time for a pint now, or ever an ould sing-song
Ah no, it was action all day and all night long."
We were even doing it in the shower, she roared,
"More power to your elbow!"
Oh no, got them bodhráns on the brain

But now she lives in Spiddal
Oh, hey diddle diddle
With an alcoholic bodhrán maker
Teaching her everything he knows

"Ah, it's all in the wrist action
Grab a hoult of it and feel the traction."
She left me here distracted and insane
With all them bodhráns on the brain

What was I to do? Fade away to nothing?
I had to walk out on her and she went off to Dublin
"Yeah, looking for instruction in the art of stretching goatskin
And drinking pints of porter with an ould lad 30 years older."


He must treat her fantastic, "Oh yeah?"
Cause on windy nights I can hear them pounding
All the way across the broad Atlantic

Listen to them!

"Ah, paddy, you know what?
You′re one powerful man."
Up on your bike, girl

But now she lives in Spiddal
Oh, hey diddle diddle
With an alcoholic bodhrán maker
Teaching her everything he knows

"Ah, it′s all in the wrist action
Grab a hoult of it and feel the traction."
She left me here distracted and insane
With all them bodhráns

But now she lives in Spiddal
Oh, hey diddle diddle
With an alcoholic bodhrán maker
Teaching her everything he knows

"Ah, it's all in the wrist action
Grab a hoult of it and feel the traction."
She left me here distracted and insane
With all them bodhráns on the brain

Get up to the yard girl,
Come on, stretch them goatskins
"Ah, Paddy, you′re ten times the man
Of that skinny little fellow back in New York."