Lyrics:

His daddy likes his cider
And his mother likes her gin
She’d one or two in the morning
She went in to have him
But despite them he looks healthy
On the outside anyway
His colouring books and crayons
Help him pass the time away

But it’s Sunday night
And they don’t look like they’ll be leaving soon
Who’ll be there in the morning
To get him off to school
Will they crush his spirit
Will he grow up a fool

Johnny he comes in each day
He likes his drop of stout
He had a wife and family
Before they threw him out
Now he’s in a shelter
And he comes in for his lunch
Plays dominoes and cards
With what’s left of his old brunch

There’s Donal, Gerard and Michael
Cork Jim and Kerry Jack
Winston from Jamaica
Geordie Dave and Govan Mac
Who we barred in here last Friday
‘Til the gaffer let him back

And I watch idly by
And I watch idly by
As the tills they rattle
And the drinks they fly
Oh I watch idly by

The singer he arrives at nine
Guitar across his back
No one looks him in the eye
The smokers block his path
He stumbles though the doorway
Coughing up his guts
He sets up in the corner
And starts without a fuss

He’s playing here every weekend
Since he came here as a lad
He sings the same old songs
Ignores each passing fad
And scornful hum surrounds him
While slowly he goes mad

The tracksuits in the corner
Are all loaded up on coke
Their laughter drowns the music
But no one gets the joke
The gaffer wants to throw ‘em out
But he’s scared out of his wits
He can’t bear to finish another night
On the end of someone’s first

But as long as they come in here
Decent people stay away
They’ll drink at home
And watch what’s on the telly
And we’ll say
‘The pub trade’s on its knees.
We’re gonna close down any day

And I watch idly by
And I watch idly by
As the tills they rattle
And the drinks they fly
Oh. I watch idly by

And if this old place closes down
What will become of me?
I’ve gotten used to sleeping in
And drinking here for free
If they let me go tomorrow
I think I’d be OK
There’s a pub chain round the corner
That’s packed out every day

They’ll give me a promotion
A management career
At least I’d have a future
Which is more than I have here
But they’ll put me on the tax
And they’d be counting every beer

So I’ll watch idly by
Oh. I’ll watch idly by
As the tills they rattle
And the drinks they fly
Oh. I’ll watch idly by
Oh. I’ll watch idly by