[Verse]
One early morning, the branchmen were sleeping,
A little helicopter flew across the sky,
Into the yard where some prisoners were drilling,
"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 a warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of those new ministers", said the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Well, down in the yard midst the pushing and the shoving,
Three of the prisoners jumped into the bird,
Up and away into the blue sky,
"I think that someone's escaping", 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 a warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of those new ministers", said the warder in the Joy.

[Verse]
Over in the Dáil, they were drinking gin and brandy,
The minister for justice was sleeping up the sun,
When the news came through, "Three prisoners have escaped, sir,
"We think it's three of the Provos", said the warder in the Joy.

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

[Verse]
Search every hole, search every nook and cranny,
Let no man rest till these prisoners 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 over the city,
"Three men are missing", I heard a warder cry,
"It must have been a bird that flew into the prison,
Or one of those new ministers", says the warder in the Joy.

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