Paddy On The Railway

We could have marked St Patrick's Day with the legends of Patrick and Dumbarton, or stories of Irish migrant workers in the sugar warehouses...but instead here's another wee song from the Downriver cd, a broadside ballad which charts an Irishman's journey to Glasgow on the Greenock railway...which was of course largely built by Irish migrant workers. It is NOT the more popularly sung "Paddy on the Railway", the lyrics for this one being just a wee bit more variety theatre. See the broadside here.

A Paddy once in Greenock town

For Glasgow city he was bound

Staring all round and round

At length he saw the Railway

Then up the stair he did repair

And a sixpence paid down for his fare

And with great wonder he did stare

When he got on the Railway

CHORUS

Engine boiler water tight

Driving in with all his might

Upon my soul it was a sight

To see the Greenock Railway

The ladies were all Pat’s delight

And he sat down amongst their whites

I one was wrong but now I’m right

This morning on the Railway

A gent sat there with curled hair

At Paddy he began to stare

And said he did not pay his fare

For that class on the Railway

CHORUS

Paddy’s blood began to rise

And hit him then between the eyes

That morning on the Railway

The people all then made a fuss

To get the conductor in they must

Pat told him to enter if he durst

That morning on the Railway

CHORUS

But now in sight of Glasgow town

And at the station we came down

They looked if a Police could be found

To drag me from the Railway

But now my shillelah uick I drew

The conductor on the ground I threw

And then with legs so quick I flew

And left them on the Railway

CHORUS

Now to the harvest I will go

And tell them there of all I know

I’ll tell them of each friend and foe

That I met on the Railway

Then off to Ireland I’ll repair

And tell them all the wonders there

For never a one in county Clare

Ever saw or heard of a Railway

CHORUS