(Traditional)

In eighteen hundred and forty-one

Me corduroy breeches I put on

Me corduroy breeches I put on

To work upon the railway, the railway

I'm weary of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-two

From Hartlepool I moved to Crewe

Found meself a job to do

Working on the railway



I was wearing corduroy breeches

Digging ditches, pulling stitches,

Dancing on the line

Still working on the railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-three

I broke me shovel across me knee

And went to work for the company

On the Leeds to Selby railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-four

I landed on the Liverpool shore

Me belly was empty, me hands were raw

With working on the railway, the railway

I'm sick to my guts of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-five

When Daniel O'Connell he was alive

When Daniel O'Connell he was alive

And working on the railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-six

I changed me trade to carrying bricks

Changed me trade to carrying bricks

Still working on the railway



In eighteen hundred and forty-seven

Poor Paddy was thinking of going to Heaven

The old bugger was thinking of going to Heaven

To work upon the railway, the railway

I'm sick to my death of the railway

Poor Paddy works on the railway