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 hospital 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   Has been in his wallet, ah way back since '65   So much was forgotten, oh so far back in time   Way down in the bottom of a river of wine      You know, they found him at Clark street, West 25th   They can't even find a heartbeat Lord, his fingers are stiff   Just like they're all frozen, he's holding her tight   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