the Games they play, Benedict Brooke

Larry O’Flynn drank a bottle of gin

Every night after work when he got in

Empties stacked in the yard while they marked his card

At the one or two places where he wasn’t barred

The photo of his wife still sits on the TV

Though she ain’t passed this way since 1983

He used to take her dancing and a little romancing

Down the Dewdrop Inn -Saturday night

Now he sits in his shorts, tuned to cable TV sports

Watching re runs of last weeks’ fight.

Chorus

Was it worth the leaving, was it easier to stay

Things’ll be different, starting today

Are you thinking of me, when I’m thinking of you

Are you missing me, am I missing you too?

Who can say?

I guess it’s strange, the games unmarried people play

Eileen O’Flynn don’t know where to begin

Her only recent date looked like Ho Chi Min

Talked about nothing but his Eivlis collection…

Didn’t have a jump suit, but he had an erection

Asking him to leave, well it seemed just too much fuss

It’s the choice between desperation - or a lonely lush

Now she’s tired in the morning and she’s got the coital blues

Waiting on tables and shuffling those soft shoes.

Chorus

Larry bumped into Eileen at the Seven- Eleven

Arranged to take her for a bite, Tuesday night at 7

And a few days later, Larry’s cleaning up the yard

Sobered up cold turkey, though it was pretty hard

And Eileen’s leafing through an old wedding catalog

Talking about kids, or maybe they’ll get a dog

And helpful friends are saying things like “You must be insane”

“She’s cheap” – “He’s a creep” – “Don’t go through that again”

Chorus

But we ain’t for turning; we’re going all the way

Things’ll be different, starting today

You’re thinking of me, when I’m thinking of you

And you’re kissing me, and I’m kissing you too

What can you say?

I guess it’s kind of strange, the games unmarried people play