Born to Sing was the Irish entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 in Paris performed and composed by Colm Wilkinson.
The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Wilkinson explaining that "And a man is born to do one thing and I was born to sing". He goes on to describe a story of heartbreak caused by his itinerant lifestyle, as his lover did not travel with him. He seems, however, to accept this as a fact of life and be prepared to live with it.
The song was performed first on the night preceding Norway. At the close of voting, it finished in 5th place with 86 points.
A reporter for a British newspaper wrote "Born to sing? How wrong can you be?" about the song following the Contest. Little did he know that 7 years later, Colm would go on to international stardom as a leading musical theatre actor.
Lyrics[]
I said: "It would never work"
You said: "Let us try"
I said: "I'm a travelling man who will only make you cry"
And when the feeling hit me and I had to move along
You said: "You were right, I guess, you must sing your song"
And a man is born to do one thing and I was born to sing
And I must take the good times and the bad times that it brings
And I missed you in the morning, but most of all at night
And I couldn't stop the music, though I tried with all my might
I lie in bed and watch the shadows moving on the wall
And the loneliness is killing me, so I turn the radio on
And I need you now, I want you, in the slow morning light
And the music makes it easier, but it doesn't make it right
And a man is born to do one thing and I was born to sing
And I must take the good times and the bad times that it brings
And I missed you in the morning but most of all at night
And I couldn't stop the music, though I tried with all my might
Some day, I hope, you will understand why I live this way
Songs keep moving in my head, this music I must play
So I pack my bags and once again I get out on the road
Another day, maybe tonight, I might catch my soul
And a man is born to do one thing and I was born to sing
And I must take the good times and the bad times that it brings
And I missed you in the morning, oh, but most of all at night
And I couldn't stop the music, though I tried with all my might
And a man is born to do one thing and I was born to sing
And I must take the good times and the bad times that it brings
And I missed you in the morning, oh, but most of all at night
And I couldn't stop the music
(Couldn't stop the music)
No, I couldn't stop the music
Because I...
Hey, I was born...
Born to sing
Born to sing
Born to sing
Born to sing
| Eurovision Song Contest 1978 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Colm Wilkinson •  Jahn Teigen •  Ricchi e Poveri •  Seija Simola •  Gemini •  Joël Prévost •  José Vélez •  Co-Co •  Carol Vinci •  Jean Vallée •  Harmony •  Nilüfer & Nazar •  Ireen Sheer •  Caline & Olivier Toussaint •  Tania Tsanaklidou •  Mabel •  Baccara •  Izhar Cohen & Alpha Beta •  Springtime •  Björn Skifs
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Born to Sing • Mil Etter Mil • Questo amore • Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus • Da li dou • Il y aura toujours des violons • Bailamos un vals • Bad Old Days • Vivre • L'amour ça fait chanter la vie • 't Is OK • Sevince • Feuer • Les jardins de Monaco • Charlie Chaplin • Boom Boom • Parlez-vous français? • A-Ba-Ni-Bi • Mrs. Caroline Robinson • Det blir alltid värre framåt natten
| |||
Video[]
Eurovision 1978 – Ireland – Colm Wilkinson – Born to Sing
Colm C. T. Wilkinson - Born to Sing (Eurovision Song Contest 1978, IRELAND) preview video