I want to believe in myself once again
So I dream of a man whose hopes never end
To kiss with a girl who's as lovely as you
I'd give you my heart, if you gave me the truth

And for every tear that is lost from an eye
I'd dig me a well where no man could destroy
I want to believe in a freedom that's bold
But all I remember is the freedom of old

Well I lost me a wife, so I found me a plane
Flew all the way to California
This mess in my head is a mess getting out
Ya drink too much coffee, I drink too much stout

But after a while, when my mouth's not so dry
I'll dance up a storm, sure life's looking fine
But as darkness falls, I return to my bed
Don't ask me more questions, don't fuck with my head

I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
Like thousands of people,
left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve,
as the Black Friday rule

The buildings they shake but my heart it beats still
Oh mother of Jesus, I feel pretty ill
I want to go home where my feet both feel safe
But there ain't no jobs in the old free state

So I must remain in my new adopted land
I'm doing the best, Hell I'm doin' all I can
So next time you see me, don't ask for my name
For I am the King and sure long may I reign

I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
Like thousands of people,
left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve, as the Black Friday rule

I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
Like thousands of people,
left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world,
down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve, as the Black Friday rule



Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Track duration: 07:01

"Black Friday Rule" as written by George Schwindt Ted Hutt

Lyrics © BOB-A-LEW SONGS

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Black Friday Rule song meanings
Add your thoughts

61 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:Can anyone tell me the name of the Jig that Bridget plays on the violin at the end?
    Flag LordTommingtonon May 21, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:I've seen a few mentions of the validity of the lines about losing a wife, and everybody seems to be confused, so here's what I know of the story:

    The wife Dave is talking about is Laura King, his first wife, and the subject of their earlier song "Laura". Dave left Good Old Ireland and moved to New York when he was in his late. While in New York, Dave met, fell in love with, and married Laura. After several years of marriage, Laura died. (Dave has never really divulged much info about this period, including any specifics of her death.) Dave tried to go back to Ireland, so that his family and his old friends could help him through this time of freat pain, as all of his new friends and the city of New York itself were just a constant reminder of everything he had lost with Laura's death.
    Dave attempted to return to Ireland, fully intending to leave the U.S. entirely and live in Ireland fulltime. However, his visa was denied, due to the volatile, near-anarchic political situation in Ireland at the time, which Dave refers to as "the Black Friday Rule", comparing the political situation of the time to the chaotic conditions following the Black Friday Bombings of Dublin in 1974.
    Denied return to his homeland, Dave turned to drink, and finally fled New York, travelling to Los Angeles. It wasn't really until the early 90s, when Dave met Bridget and the guys and started playing at Molly Malone's that Dave really pulled his life out of the slump he had been in since Laura's death.

    I actually think of this song as Dave's narration of his life to Bridget shortly after they began dating.
    Flag JehanSunderlandon April 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song comes across as being about leaving Ireland because there was a lack of jobs and freedom, and moving to the United States for freedom and job opportunity's. But missing your homeland, wishing you could go back but you know you can't because it's not live-able conditions there.

    On a more universal level, this song speaks about overcoming your life situations and prospering for greater success. Doing what's right for yourself, whatever it is you feel you have to do in order not to be brought down by life again and using that as a constructive tool (remembering hardships, and failure).
    Flag AbsentMindedon June 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Black Friday was also another name for bloody Friday in which the IRA attacked northern Ireland for what they did on bloody sunday
    Flag ErinGoBragh1972on March 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:All I know about Dave's love life is that he's currently married to Bridget Regan (from the band).
    Flag piney10on June 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:All I know about Dave's love life is that he's currently married to Bridget Regan (from the band).
    Flag piney10on June 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:"The guitar solo and the jig in this song are awesome. completely awesome!"

    Here, here! My words exactly!!
    Flag lemonysweetson January 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Flogging Molly is one of the best bands ever, right next to Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Metallica, and a couple others.
    Flag ficedude12on January 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:What i find interesting that most people assume Black Friday refers to an event. Reading the last line again... "as the Black Friday rule"... makes it seem more to me that "Black Friday" actually refers to a group of people - possibly the United Kingdom's politicans who ruled over Northern Ireland.

    Northern Ireland didnt have a governing body of it's own until 1998 - one year after this song was published -... interestingly, the accord creating said body was signed on Good Friday.
    Flag StarLionon August 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"But there ain’t no jobs in the old free state" Refers to Ireland during 1922 to - 1937 after it became a dominion of the United Kingdom due to a War of Independence...It became a Republic and severed all ties with UK in 1937

    So this song is based during 1922-1937
    Flag LynkSIon June 15, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain