[the pogues' version]
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In eighteen hundred and forty-one
The 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 myself a job to do
A working on the railway


I was wearing corduroy breeches
Digging ditches, pulling switches
Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-three

I broke the shovel across me knee
I went to work for the company
On the leeds to selby railway


I was wearing corduroy breeches
Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was
Working on the railway


In eighteen hundred and forty-four
I landed on the liverpool shore
My 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


I was wearing corduroy breeches
Digging ditches, pulling switches
Dodging pitches, as I was

Working on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-six

I changed my trade to carrying bricks
I changed my trade to carrying bricks
To work upon the railway


I was wearing corduroy breeches
Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was
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


I was wearing corduroy breeches
Digging ditches, pulling switches

Dodging pitches, as I was
Working on the railway




[paddy works on the railway]

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In eighteen hundred and forty-one
My corduroy breeches I put on
My 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
I didn't know what I should do
I didn't know what I should do

To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway
Poor paddy works on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-three

I sailed away across the sea
I sailed away across the sea
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway
Poor paddy works on the railway


In eighteen hundred and forty-four
I landed on columbia's shore
I landed on columbia's shore
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary 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
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway

Poor paddy works on the railway

In eighteen hundred and forty-six
I made my trade to carrying bricks
I made my trade to carrying bricks
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway

Poor paddy works on the railway

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

In eighteen hundred and forty-eight
I learned to drink my whiskey straight
I learned to drink my whiskey straight
To work upon the railway, the railway
I'm weary of the railway

Poor paddy works on the railway