Well, in all of my travels in Europe, many weird things did i see
but the strangest sight that i seen in all my nights was flashed from the big-screen TV

At Olympia Stadium in Berlin, sixty-nine thousand people were there
and four billion eyes watched with surprise and excitement was thick in the air

It was the World Cup Final of football, twenty-three men ran on that green lawn
and each one a star, but the genius by far was the man called Zinedine Zidane

O Zinedine Zidane, now that yer gone, i have to wonder just what went on
'cos you were the biggest hero in France, you could have been the greatest but you missed yer chance

Well, the French team was dressed all in white, the Italians were suited in blue
folx adjusted their sets and fans placed their bets on what their gladiators would do

Then the whistle was blown and the ball kicked on and the match was just seven minutes old
when a penalty was called and Zidane took the ball and easily chipped it in the goal

But the French led for only twelve minutes and then the momentum switched sides
Marco Materazzi jumped and headed with a thump and then suddenly the score was tied

O Zinedine Zidane, now that yer gone, i have to wonder just what went on
it was the Italian man named Marco Materazzi, i don't know for sure but i think he's a nazi

And so the tempo swung back and forth and thru the night the tension climbed
after many brave chances, breath takin' advances, the referee blew extra time

And while the world waited for a winner in the battle of brains and brawn
now with two hours past, the crowd knew in the last it would come down to Zinedine Zidane

Then in the wanin' moments Marco grabbed Zidane and shouted an insult and more
and Zidane turned around and charged him with his crown and knocked Materazzi to the floor

O Zinedine Zidane, now that yer gone, i have to wonder just what went on
what was it he said that made you see red? you rammed him with yer head and he fell like he was dead

The spectators gasped, the players shouted, the head referee was surely blind
but he drew the crimson card and expelled him from the yard and Zidane suffered a fate most unkind

Maybe it was a moment of madness that led him to leave the field in tears
or maybe it was racism workin' against him, now his head-butt will be discussed for years

Then losin' their captain, the French lost their nerve and the match went to the Italian men
and while the victors rejoiced the losers hushed their voices and wondered what might have been

O Zinedine Zidane, now that yer gone, i have to wonder just what went on
you ruled the football game, everyone knew yer name now fate's tainted yer fame and ain't it a shame