Pat Works on the Railway
"This is the American version I learned as a child. According to Wikipedia, the song originated in Ireland as a sea chanty. Some internet sites have verses concerning Pat working on the railway in England before going to America." -Nancy
Pat Works on the Railway
Folk Song
In eighteen hundred and forty one,
I put my corduroy britches on,
I put my corduroy britches on,
To work upon the railway.
(Chorus)
Fil-a-mee-o-ry, ory ay,
Fil-a-mee-o-ry, ory ay
Fil-a-mee-o-ry, ory ay,*
To work upon the railway.
In eighteen hundred and forty two,
I left the old world for the new
I left the old world for the new**
To work upon the railway.
(Chorus)
It was "Pat do this!" and "Pat do that!"
Without a stocking or cravat
With nothing but an old straw hat
To work upon the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred and forty three,
'twas then I met sweet Biddy McGee
An elegant wife she's been to me,
While workin' on the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred and forty four,
Me back was gettin' mighty sore,
Me back was gettin' mighty sore
From workin' on the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred forty five,
I found myself more dead than alive
I found myself more dead than alive,
From workin' on the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred and forty-six,
They pelted me with stones and sticks;
I was in a hell of a fix,
While working on the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred and forty seven,
Sweet Biddy McGee she went to heaven
If she left one child, she left eleven
To work upon the railway.
(Chorus)
In eighteen hundred and forty eight
I found myself at the pearly gates
I found myself at the pearly gates
From working on the railway.
(Chorus)
Notes
*The chorus sounds like Gaelic but isn't.
**Variant: "I sailed across the ocean blue."
