Mcalpine's Fusiliers Lyrics - Dubliners

As down the glen came McAlpine's men 

With their shovels slung behind them 

'Twas in the pub they drank the sub 

And up in the spike you'll find them 

They sweated blood and they washed down mud 

With pints and quarts of beer 

And now we're on the road again 

With McAlpine's fusiliers 

I stripped to the skin with Darky Flynn 

Way down upon the Isle of Grain 

With the Horseface Toole then I knew the rule 

No money if you stop for rain 

McAlpine's God was a well filled hod 

Your shoulders cut to bits and seared 

And woe to he who to looks for tea 

With McAlpine's fusiliers 

I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea 

Fell into a concrete stairs 

What the Horseface said, when he saw him dead 

Well, it wasn't what the rich call prayers 

I'm a navvy short was the one retort 

That reached unto my ears 

When the going is rough, well you must be tough 

With McAlpine's fusiliers 

I've worked 'till the sweat has had me bet 

With Russian, Czech and Pole 

On shuddering jams up in the hydro dams 

Or underneath the Thames in a hole 

I grafted hard and I've got me cards 

And many a ganger's fist across me ears 

If you pride your life, don't join by Christ 

With McAlpine's fusiliers