Music Video
Building Up and Tearing England Down - The Mary Wallopers
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
The Mary Wallopers
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Dominic Behan
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Chris Barry
Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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 labour
[Verse 2]
I have won a hero's name
With McAlpine and Costain
With Fitzpatrick, Murphy, Ash 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
[Verse 3]
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 building up and tearing England down"
[Verse 4]
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
[Verse 5]
And I saw auld Balls McColl
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 building up and tearing England down
[Verse 6]
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 shuttering jamb
And that poor auld stuttering man
He was never ever more inclined to speak
[Verse 7]
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 building up and tearing England down
[Verse 8]
A man stood at the golden gate
His face was malled and old
He looked towards a man of fate
For admission to the fold
[Verse 9]
"What have you done," Saint Peter asked
"To seek admission here?"
"I drove heavy machines
For many's a weary year"
[Verse 10]
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"
[Verse 11]
In a tunnel underground
A young Limerick man was found
He was built into the new Victoria Line
And when the bonus gang had passed
Sticking through the concrete cast
Was the face of little Charlie Joe Devine
[Verse 12]
And the ganger man McGurk
Said, "Big Paddy ate the work"
When a 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 building up and tearing England down"
[Verse 13]
So, come, you navvys 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 O.B.E.
Or a knighthood for good service to the hod
[Verse 14]
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 building up and tearing England down
[Verse 15]
If you ever try to take
Part of what the bosses make
When you're building up and tearing England down
Written by: Dominic Behan
