Soundtrack to the crisis

Ireland has been suffering from the effects of the financial crisis for the past five years. Its old model of growth has become obsolete and Damien Dempsey's songs about the crisis strike a nerve with his fellow countrymen.

Born in Dublin, Dempsey has been a big name on the Irish folk scene for years.

The 36-year-old mainly dedicates his unique voice to songs with a political emphasis.

"Celtic Tiger" is about the greed of politicians and financial markets - which has meant that many Irish citizens have lost out as a result of the crisis.

Celtic Tiger

So greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy
So greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy

Now they say the Celtic Tiger in my home town
Brings jewels and crowns, picks you up off the ground
But the Celtic Tiger does two things
It brings you good luck or it eats you up for its supper
It's the tale of the two cities on the shamrock shore
Please Sir can I have some more

If you hear the tiger roar
Run for the door
'Cause if you are poor you'll be eaten for sure
And that's how I know the poor have more taste than the rich
And that's how I know the poor have more taste than the rich

Hear the Celtic Tiger roar - I want more
Hear the Celtic Tiger roar - I want more, more, more

The fastest growing inflation rate in the world,
The cost of a run down house is absurd
This isn't any age for a low income wage
Ask anyone who's locked in a cage
A couple with kids can't afford a place to live
Even if they have a good job
We're bring robbed by the builders and the fat cat government
A league of greed and they don't even need for a thing
It's a sin
But it's the nature of the beast
You'd better go and find a priest and confess
Because your greed is gonna leave you soulless

Hear the Celtic Tiger roar - I want more
Hear the Celtic Tiger roar - I want more, more, more

Where we gonna live, what we gonna do
We'll have to move in with the woman in the shoe
They're driving us onto the streets
While the fat cat in government cheats,
And always gets away with his crime
A kid steals a jacket and does time
Just look at the world around you
Tell me why is there so much need
Because of greed

So greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy