Cover art for Desperate Andy by The Cranberries

Desperate Andy

Apr. 19, 19991 viewer

Desperate Andy Lyrics

He always holds on to his girlfriend
That's where he likes to be
He likes to wear the ball
And the chain on his neck
A false sense of security

And when he goes he goes with a smile
And when he goes he goes with a smile
And when he goes he goes with a smile
And when he goes he goes with a smile

Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Re la la la la la la la la la

The world is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get high
And get whatever you want to

Ma-na-na, ma-na-na
Ma-na-na, ma-na-na
Ma-na-na, ma-na-na
Ma-na-na, ma-na-na
He used to be a closet biker they say
A 1957 BSA
He used to collect writing paper
They wonder wonder wonder
Wonder wonder of

Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Ra la la la la la la
Isn't it dandy a-a-a-a
Ra la la la la
Desperate Andy a-a-a-a
Ra la la la la la la la la la

The world is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get high
And get whatever you want to

The word is your oyster now
You can do as you want to do
The world is your oyster now
So go out and get laid
And get whatever you want to
The world is your oyster
The world is yours
It's yours it's yours
It's yours it's yours
It's yours it's yours
It's yours it's yours

Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity, gimme the wit, yo-oh
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity, gimme the wit, yo-oh (yo-oh, yo-oh, yo-oh, yo-oh)
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity, gimme the wit, yo-oh (it’s yo-o-o-ours)
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity, gimme the wit, yo-oh
Gimme the chastity, gimme the sanctity, gimme the wit, yo-oh

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Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Cranberries say about "Desperate Andy"?
Genius Answer

Dolores explained the meaning of the song in Cranberries chat, February 1999:

It’s about sometimes in life, we see people, and we depict a character based on the visual aspect. There are plenty of large, threatening looking men who under the surface are gentle people.

— Via Cranberries World

Is there a live performance video for this song?
Genius Answer

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