"Building Up And Tearing England Down" lyrics
Who is jumping on the wagons?
Who is doing the work in this country?
They're all Irishmen every one of them
They're Irish contractors and they're Irish labor
I have one hero's name with McAlpine and Costain
With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ashe and Wimpey's gang
I've been often on the road, on my way to draw the dole
When there's nothing left to do for Johnny Laing
And I used to think that God made the mixer, pick and hod
So that Paddy might know hell above the ground
I've had gangers big and tough tell me tear it all out rough
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
I remember Carrier Jack he wore a hod upon his back
And he swore he'd one day set the world on fire
His face we've never seen since his shovel it cut clean
Through the middle of a big high tension wire
And I saw auld Balls McCaul, from the big flyover fall
Into a concrete mixer spinning 'round
Though it was not his intent, he got a fine head of cement
When he was buildin' up and tearin' England down
I was on the hydro dam ah the day that Pat McCann
Got the better of his stammer in a week
He fell from the shutterin' jam and that poor auld stutterin' man
He was never ever more inclined to speak
And no more like Robin Hood will he roam through Cricklewood
Or dance around the pubs of Camden Town
Ah let no man complain, that no navvy dies in vain
When he's buildin' up and tearin' England down
A man stood at the golden gate
His face was gnarled and old
He looked towards the man of fate
For admission to the fold
"What have you done," St. Peter asked
"To seek admission here?"
"I've dug heavy machines for manies over a year."
The golden gate flew open wide when Peter touched the bell
"Step in", says he, "And choose your crew
You've served your time in Hell."
In a tunnel underground a young Limerick man was found
He was built into the new Victoria Line
And when the bonus gang had past, sticking through the concrete cast
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine
And the ganger man McGurk said, "Big Paddy 'ate to work."
When the gas pipe burst and he flew off the ground
Well they swear he said, "Don't slack, I'll not be there until I'm back
Keep on buildin' up and tearin' England down."
So come you navvies bold, who do think that English gold
Is just waiting to be plucked from every sod
Or that the likes of you and me will ever get an OBE
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod
They've a concrete master race, there to keep you in your place
And a ganger man to kick you to the ground
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
Who is doing the work in this country?
They're all Irishmen every one of them
They're Irish contractors and they're Irish labor
I have one hero's name with McAlpine and Costain
With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ashe and Wimpey's gang
I've been often on the road, on my way to draw the dole
When there's nothing left to do for Johnny Laing
And I used to think that God made the mixer, pick and hod
So that Paddy might know hell above the ground
I've had gangers big and tough tell me tear it all out rough
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
I remember Carrier Jack he wore a hod upon his back
And he swore he'd one day set the world on fire
His face we've never seen since his shovel it cut clean
Through the middle of a big high tension wire
And I saw auld Balls McCaul, from the big flyover fall
Into a concrete mixer spinning 'round
Though it was not his intent, he got a fine head of cement
When he was buildin' up and tearin' England down
I was on the hydro dam ah the day that Pat McCann
Got the better of his stammer in a week
He fell from the shutterin' jam and that poor auld stutterin' man
He was never ever more inclined to speak
And no more like Robin Hood will he roam through Cricklewood
Or dance around the pubs of Camden Town
Ah let no man complain, that no navvy dies in vain
When he's buildin' up and tearin' England down
A man stood at the golden gate
His face was gnarled and old
He looked towards the man of fate
For admission to the fold
"What have you done," St. Peter asked
"To seek admission here?"
"I've dug heavy machines for manies over a year."
The golden gate flew open wide when Peter touched the bell
"Step in", says he, "And choose your crew
You've served your time in Hell."
In a tunnel underground a young Limerick man was found
He was built into the new Victoria Line
And when the bonus gang had past, sticking through the concrete cast
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine
And the ganger man McGurk said, "Big Paddy 'ate to work."
When the gas pipe burst and he flew off the ground
Well they swear he said, "Don't slack, I'll not be there until I'm back
Keep on buildin' up and tearin' England down."
So come you navvies bold, who do think that English gold
Is just waiting to be plucked from every sod
Or that the likes of you and me will ever get an OBE
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod
They've a concrete master race, there to keep you in your place
And a ganger man to kick you to the ground
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
If you ever try to take part of what the bosses make
When you're buildin' up and tearin' England down
