141. Poor Paddy works on the Railway

Chant traditionnel, Irlande (première publication confirmée en 1864).

1.
In eighteen hundred and forty-one,
Me corduroy britches I put on,
Me corduroy britches I put on
To work upon the railway, the railway,
I’m weary of the railway
Poor Paddy works on the railway.

2.
In eighteen hundred and forty-two
From Hartlepool I moved to Crewe
And found meself a job to do
Working on the railway.
I was wearing 
Corduroy britches, digging ditches.
Pulling switches, dodging the hitches,
I was working on the railway.

3.
In eighteen hundred and forty-three
I broke my shovel across my knee
And went to work for the company
Of the Leeds and Selby Railway.
I was wearing 
Corduroy britches, digging ditches.
Pulling switches, dodging the hitches,
I was working on the railway.

4.
In eighteen hundred and forty-four
I landed on the Liverpool shore;
My belly was empty, my hands were sore
From working on the railway, the railway,
I’m weary of the railway
Poor Paddy works on the railway.

5.
In eighteen hundred and forty-five
When Dan O’Connell, he was alive;
Dan O’Connell he was alive
And working on the railway.
I was wearing 
Corduroy britches, digging ditches.
Pulling switches, dodging the hitches,
I was working on the railway.

6.
In eighteen hundred and forty-six
I changed me trade from carrying bricks,
I changed me trade from carrying bricks
To working on the railway.
I was wearing
Corduroy britches, digging ditches.
Pulling switches, dodging the hitches,
I was working on the railway.

7.
In eighteen hundred and forty-seven
Poor Paddy was thinking of going to heaven.
Poor Paddy was thinking of going to heaven
To work upon the railway, the railway,
I’m weary of the railway—poor Paddy works on the railway.

(Final.)
I was wearing corduroy britches, digging ditches.
Pulling switches, dodging the hitches,
I was working on the railway.