[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Ah, early one morning as the branchmen they were sleeping,
A little helicopter it flew across the sky,
And down into the yard where some prisoners were walking,
"Get ready for inspection" said the warder in the Joy.

[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Ah, down into the yard through the pushing and the shoving,
Three of the prisoners they climbed upon the bird,
And up and away she went into the blue sky,
"I think you'll never find them" said the warder in the Joy.

[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Ah, over in the Dáil, they were drinking gin and brandy,
The minister for justice was soaking up the sun,
When came this little message that some prisoners had escaped him,
"I think it's three of the Provos" said the warder in the Joy.

[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Ah, search every hole, search every nook and cranny,
Ah, let no man rest until these men are found,
For this cannot happen to a law and order government,
"I think you'll never find them" said the warder in the Joy.

[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in the Joy.

[Chorus]
And it's up like a bird and it's over the city,
"Three men are missing" I heard the warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of these new ministers" says the warder in Mountjoy.