In eighteen hundred and forty-one I put my corduroy breeches on, I put my corduroy breeches on To work upon the railway. For-o-my-or-o-my-or-o-my-ay, For-o-my-or-o-my-or-o-my ay, For-o-my-or-o-my-or-o-my-ay, To work upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-two I left the old world for the new, The emigrationists put me through, To work upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-three, 'Twas first I met sweet Biddy McGee, And an iligant wife she's been to me While working on the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-four, It left me where I was before; Bad cess to luck that brought me o'er To work upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-five, Dan O'Connell was then alive, And Teddy McGuinness to my surprise Was working on the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-six, I got meself in the divils' own fix For callin' some gents a parcel o' micks, As works upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-seven, Sweet Biddy McGee has gone to heaven, If she left one child she left eleven To work upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and forty-eight, I learned to take my whiskey straight. 'Tis a beautiful drink and can't be bate For working on the railway. In eighteen hundred and fifty-two, My earthly career is almost through, And there's nothing on earth that I can do But work upon the railway. In eighteen hundred and fifty-three, The imps and the divil they took me To work upon the machinery In the Sub-terranean Railway. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG OF THE LITTLE WHITE GIRL by KATHERINE MANSFIELD SPECIAL PLEADING by SIDNEY LANIER |