Adam McNaughtan, in his sleeve notes for "Words, Words, Words" states that the song was written by James Curran, who came to Glasgow from Donegal as a boy and died in 1900. He goes on to say, " I have here restored some of his lines, which the tradition, drawing on Irish sources, had dropped.

What??? You expect me to transcribe it for you too???

Oh OK then.


FITBA' CRAZY.

You a' know my big brither Jock, his right name's Johnny Shaw
Last week he joined a fitba' club for he's mad aboot fitba'
He's got two black eyes already and teeth oot by the root
Since Jock's face came in contact wi' anither fella's boot

Chorus: 'Cause he's fitba' crazy, he's fitba' mad
The fitba' it has ta'en away the wee bit sense he had.
And it wid take a dozen servants his claes tae wash an' scrub
Since Jock became a member o' that terrible fitba' club

The first game he took part in I wis there mysel' an' saw
They had twa half bricks for goalposts and a tin can for the ba'
The Prince O' Wales was present wi' lords and ladies grand
Oor Jock he got an egg box and he made a big grandstand

Oh a' the fitba' teams afloat he swears they are the prime
And ye want tae hear him bouncin' about beating record time
They've challenged every other side but nane will tak' them up
Since they beat the blind asylum for a leather plated cup

His wife she says she'll leave him if he disnae keep
Away frae playing fitba' at nightime in his sleep
He ca's her Pat McGinty an'ither names sae drole
Lasy night he kicked her oot the bed and swore it wis a goal


All the best,

Nynia.